Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1446606
26 PATIENT & CAREGIVER EXPERIENCE 1 in 5 physicians, 2 in 5 nurses intend to leave practice within 2 years, AMA-led study finds By Kelly Gooch T he healthcare workforce is on the brink of experiencing high staff turn- over rates, indicative of what is being deemed the "Great Resignation," an Ameri- can Medical Association-led study suggests. The study, published Dec. 15 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, examined relationships between COVID-19-related stress and work intentions, based on a survey con- ducted between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, among 20,665 workers at 124 hospitals and health systems. Among survey respondents, 1 in 5 phy- sicians and 2 in 5 nurses said they intend to leave their current practice within two years, the study found. Additionally, about one-third of physicians and nurses reported their intention to reduce clinical work hours in the next 12 months. Intention to leave an individual's prac- tice within two years was highest among nurses, advanced practice providers, other clinical staff and physicians. It was lowest among administrators. Intention to reduce hours within 12 months was highest among physicians, nurses and advanced practice providers. Higher levels of burnout, stress, work- load, fear of infection, COVID-19-related anxiety or depression, and the number of years in practice were among factors asso- ciated with a greater intention to reduce work hours or leave a practice, according to the study. "Because multiple studies have demon- strated that intent to leave among physi- cians correlates with actual departures, these findings are of concern," the study stated. "Costs of replacing healthcare workers are also substantial. Replacing a nurse may cost up to 1.2 to 1.3 times their annual salary. Replacing physicians may cost $250,000 to more than $1 million per physician. The aggregate cost of physi- cians reducing or cutting back attribut- able to burnout alone is estimated at $4.6 billion annually in the U.S." The AMA said feeling highly valued by an individual's organization was strongly associated with lower intention to reduce work hours and leave an individual's current practice. Study authors concluded that "reducing burnout and improving a sense of feeling valued may allow healthcare organiza- tions to better maintain their workforces post-pandemic." n 29 best healthcare jobs, per US News: Nurse practitioner is No. 1 By Gabrielle Masson N urse practitioner is the best healthcare job for 2022, with 114,900 projected jobs and a median salary of $111,680, accord- ing to a U.S. News & World Report list released Jan. 11. For the ranking, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify jobs with the greatest hiring demand. Jobs were then scored using seven component measures: 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, medi- an salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance. Here are the 29 best healthcare jobs, as ranked by U.S. News: 1. Nurse practitioner 2. Physician assistant 3. Speech-language pathologist 4. Physician 5. Registered nurse 6. Respiratory therapist 7. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon 8. Nurse anesthetist 9. Veterinarian 10. Physical therapist 11. Occupational therapist 12. Pediatrician 13. Optometrist 14. Anesthesiologist 15. Obstetrician and gynecologist 16. Dentist 17. Psychiatrist 18. Orthodontist 19. Chiropractor 20. Pharmacist 21. Dietitian and nutritionist 22. Audiologist 23. Radiation therapist 24. Nurse midwife 25. Prosthodontist 26. Podiatrist 27. Surgeon 28. Esthetician and skin care specialist 29. Rehabilitation counselor n