The healthcare labor shortage isn’t new—but it is evolving. While hospitals and health systems continue to grapple with high turnover, the expectations of nurses and allied health professionals are changing. Our 2025 State of U.S. Nurses & Technicians Report reveals a critical shift: nearly 1 in 5 nurses still plan to leave their roles, yet trusted organizations are reducing churn by acting early and strategically.
To better understand what works, we analyzed behavior and feedback from over 1 million nurses, technicians, and technologists on the Incredible Health platform. Let’s take a closer look at the tactics that separate healthcare employers with sustainable staffing from those stuck in reactive hiring cycles.
Lead with Competitive & Transparent Compensation
More than 65% of nurses and 71% of technicians and technologists report feeling underpaid. But fair compensation isn’t just about salary—it’s about trust. When pay structures are unclear or when inequities exist between units or experience levels, retention suffers.
Recommended actions:
- Benchmark salaries at or above the 50th percentile in your region
- Provide premium pay for high-need shifts and specialized roles
- Audit for internal equity across roles and departments
- Communicate pay philosophy openly to build credibility
Tackle Burnout with Flexible Staffing and Lasting Support
Burnout continues to drive turnover. In fact, 80% of nurses report elevated stress levels, and only 1 in 4 feel their mental health is “very good.” Chronic understaffing, unsafe working environments, and emotional exhaustion have made it impossible to ignore the need for real change.
Recommended actions:
- Use nurse recruitment software to build a pipeline of prequalified, specialty-matched clinicians
- Invest in long-term mental health support—not just crisis lines
- Offer de-escalation training and enforce zero-tolerance violence policies
- Pilot flexible scheduling and self-scheduling options
Elevate Career Development and Internal Mobility
Lack of “Career advancement” was the #1 reason clinicians left their previous roles, according to data from our platform. Nurses, technicians and technologists want continuous growth. If internal opportunities aren’t visible, they’ll look externally.
Recommended actions:
- Map out personalized career growth plans during onboarding
- Create clear clinical ladders and leadership pathways
- Offer tuition reimbursement and specialty certifications
- Launch mentorship programs with senior staff
Pair AI Innovation with Workforce Enablement
While only 15% of nurses currently use AI tools at work, 85% want formal training. Leading hospitals are rolling out AI-driven tools, from clinical documentation optimization to nurse staffing solutions, while ensuring clinicians feel supported and not sidelined.
Recommended actions:
- Deploy AI to streamline scheduling, documentation, and hiring workflows
- Launch short, role-specific AI training modules
- Reassure teams that AI is a tool to support care, not substitute it
Streamline Hiring to Improve Retention from Day One
High turnover often starts with broken hiring pipelines. Traditional nurse hiring processes take up to 86 days—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Healthcare employers on the Incredible Health career marketplace hire in under 20 days and see a 15% higher 1-year retention rate.
Recommended actions:
- Use nurse recruitment software that automates candidate matching by specialty, experience, and preferences
- Simplify licensing, credentialing, and onboarding using secure digital platforms
- Emphasize your mission, values, and culture early in the hiring journey
There’s no quick fix for nurse retention. But there is a competitive advantage in scaling what works. Hospitals and health systems driving results are those who treat retention as a long-term investment—fueled by data, empathy, and modern tools.
At Incredible Health, we help over 1,500 healthcare employers hire more experienced nurses, technicians, and technologists in less time and with better long-term outcomes. Our healthcare career marketplace doesn’t just streamline hiring; it improves retention by setting clinicians up for success from the start.
Want to future-proof your workforce? Let’s build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare workforce—together. Book a demo to discover how Incredible Health can help support your recruitment and retention goals.
