To help find common ground with Gen Z, CNOs should focus on communication and flexibility.
Nowadays, there are plenty of issues in nursing to keep CNOs busy, but one of the biggest ones is nurse turnover.
As it stands now, the national RN turnover rate sits at about 16.4%. Press Ganey recently released the Nurse Experience 2025 report, which relies on feedback from over 500,000 RNs, APPs, and other clinical staff across the country. According to Jeff Doucette, CNO at Press Ganey, the report shows a decline in engagement with increasingly higher than expected turnover rates, which points to a gap between nurses and leaders.
In particular, the report stated that 24% of Gen Z RNs left the workforce in 2024. If CNOs want to maintain the sustainability of their workforces, reengaging Gen Z will be a key factor.
Here are three ways CNOs can reengage Gen Z nurses in the workforce.
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G Hatfield is the CNO editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Nurse Experience 2025 report by Press Ganey stated that 24% of Gen Z RNs left the workforce in 2024.
The Gen Z exodus from nursing has less to do with lack of commitment and more to do with unmet needs, centering around purpose, support, and alignment with their organizations.
Rather than telling new nurses that they cannot progress as quickly in their careers as they want to, CNOs should direct them towards the pathway that will eventually get them to where they want to be.