By Darla Hardy DNP, RN, Vice President Client Relations & Business Development
At Plexsum Staffing Solutions, we work side-by-side with healthcare leaders every day who are struggling to maintain adequate nurse staffing levels while managing skyrocketing labor costs. If it feels like the challenges are growing year after year—you’re not wrong. The 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report underscores the financial toll nurse vacancies and turnover continue to take on hospitals nationwide.
Here are key takeaways that illustrate why tackling nurse turnover must remain a strategic priority:
💸 $61,110 — The Average Cost of Losing One RN
Turnover is more than a staffing inconvenience—it’s a financial liability. In 2024, the average cost of turnover for a single bedside RN jumped to $61,110, an 8.6% increase from the previous year. Multiply that by a handful of exits, and the numbers are staggering.
⚠️ Each 1% change in RN turnover can cost or save hospitals $289,000 annually.
📉 Turnover Rates Decreased Slightly… But the Impact Remains
The national RN turnover rate dipped by 2.4%, landing at 16.4%, but that’s still a significant churn rate—especially when you consider some hospitals experienced rates as high as 36.4% depending on size and location.
Departments like step-down, telemetry, and emergency services are particularly volatile, with cumulative turnover rates reaching 121% over the past five years—meaning these units turn over their entire RN workforce roughly every 4.5 years.
⏳ Time-to-Fill Still Creates Pressure
The average time to recruit an experienced RN was 83 days in 2024. While that’s slightly faster than 2023, every unfilled position stretches current staff thin, risks burnout, and increases dependency on high-cost, short-term solutions.
🧩 Vacancy Rates Still Near 10%
The RN vacancy rate sat at 9.6% nationally. While hospitals added roughly 98,000 RNs in 2024, it’s still not enough to meet the demand, especially in high-stress specialties where mobility is highest.
What This Means for Healthcare Leaders
At Plexsum Staffing Solutions, we see firsthand how consistent staffing solutions can reduce turnover, improve continuity of care, and prevent costly disruption. Contract staffing—when done with a reliable partner—can stabilize your workforce, reduce burnout, and save money by preventing repeated recruitment and onboarding cycles.
Instead of constantly reacting to staffing shortfalls, our clients gain a proactive partner who understands the clinical landscape, thinks strategically, and delivers ready-to-work professionals who are aligned with your mission.
Let’s Talk Strategy
Are you tired of losing time and money due to preventable turnover? Let’s build a staffing plan that improves retention, lowers risk, and supports your permanent staff.
📞 Schedule a strategy call with us today.
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Tags: #HealthcareStaffing #NurseTurnover #PlexsumSolutions #HospitalLeadership #WorkforceStrategy #RetentionMatters
