Missouri hospitals report growing turnover among health care workers

Missouri-area hospitals had an average turnover rate of 18.1% among health care professions surveyed in 2015, up from 16.3% in 2014, according to a new report from the Missouri Hospital Association. Of the 36 hospital occupations surveyed, 11 indicated an employee turnover of more than 15%. Positions with the highest turnover included housekeeper, behavioral health nurse, unlicensed assistive personnel, licensed practice nurse and certified occupational therapy assistant. In addition, the report found that registered nurse turnover reached an all-time high of 17.9%. “Despite the investments outlined in this year’s report, the state’s hospital workforce continues to experience troublingly high rates of vacancy and turnover,” said MHA President and CEO Herb Kuhn. “Health care is the fastest growing job sector, and demand for both skilled and unskilled workers is high. To deliver the workforce needed to care for Missourians in the future, all stakeholders must work collaboratively to strengthen and enlarge the state’s health care workforce.” A total of 148 hospitals participated in this year’s survey, including 10 in Kansas and five in Illinois.