Health systems should expect an increase in turnover in 2025, as engagement levels trend downward, Press Ganey said in a report released April 23.
Compared to 2024, engagement in the healthcare industry dropped 0.02 points.
“This is a meaningful, statistically significant decline, signaling a growing disconnect between healthcare workers and their organizations,” the report said.
Disengaged employees are 1.7 times more likely to leave their role, according to Press Ganey, which analyzed feedback from 2.3 million U.S. healthcare employees to research national engagement, alignment and resilience trends. More than 400 health systems and 15,200 locations were represented.
The organization measured engagement by an employee’s intent to stay if offered a similar job elsewhere, intent to stay for the next three years, sense of belonging, recommend the health system as a good place to work and overall satisfaction.
On a five-point scale, here are the mean engagement scores among 13 healthcare roles:
Senior management: 4.53 (-0.03 decline since 2023)
Management: 4.22 (-0.01)
Nonclinical professional: 4.04 (-0.05)
Skilled maintenance: 4.02 (-0.03)
Clerical: 3.98 (-0.02)
Physician: 3.96 (-0.06)
Security: 3.96 (-0.04)
Service: 3.96 (-0.01)
Clinical professional: 3.94 (-0.03)
Nursing (other): 3.93 (-0.03)
Registered nurse: 3.91 (-0.02)
Licensed technical: 3.91 (no change)
Advanced practice provider: 3.88 (-0.08)
The two roles with the sharpest declines in engagement — physicians and APPs — are feeling strains from capacity challenges, administrative burdens and less alignment with leaders. The report found that 29% of physicians and 28% of APPs are thinking about leaving their organization within the next three years.
To drive APP engagement, the report recommends leaders work to build and sustain trust, ensure APPs feel valued, and build confidence in APP career growth.
Organizations with highly engaged and aligned physicians act on survey results and cultivate trust by shared decision-making with physicians. Access the report here.
