By Annika Merrilees
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ST. LOUIS 鈥� Turnover and vacancy rates in hospital staff positions statewide remain at near-record levels, a report released Wednesday shows, reflecting a slower-than-desired recovery for the industry and its workforce.
The vacancy rate for staff nurse positions in Missouri was 17%, only a modest decline from the record 20% rate seen the year before, according to the Missouri Hospital Association workforce report.
In the years leading up to the pandemic, the statewide vacancy rate was 10% and 11%.
The state鈥檚 larger metro areas had higher staff nurse vacancy rates than the rest of the state, with 18% in the St. Louis area, and 21% in the Kansas City area.
MHA president and CEO Jon Doolittle said that while the numbers this year show a 鈥渟mall improvement鈥� over those seen in the worst of the pandemic, 鈥渢hey shouldn鈥檛 be viewed as an indicator that the hospital staffing crisis has passed.鈥�
鈥淢uch work remains to ensure hospitals have the staffing necessary to deliver and support care in the long and short term,鈥� Doolittle said in a statement.
The industry group report says retention must be a top priority. Hospitals should convey to front-line workers and leaders that their work is valued by emphasizing flexibility, work-life balance and inclusivity, among other things. The report calls for including workers in decision-making 鈥� and for 鈥渇requent and consistent鈥� compensation reviews and 鈥渟tay鈥� interviews.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 workforce report is a reminder,鈥� Doolittle said, 鈥渢hat we have work to do.鈥�
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