| Sumario: | Significance & Background: An organizational focus on staff turnover is critical to patient safety and quality care, as well as business functions like operating margins and organizational reputation. High turnover rates can lead to an increase in errors, a lack of continuity in care for patients, and staff burnout. Staff experience, expertise and relations with physicians in oncology care supports better patient outcomes. The comprehensive cancer center (including radiation oncology, breast imaging, physician clinics, and infusion) had a 42.8% clinical staff turnover rate at the end of FY24. Clinical staff consist of oncology nurses, nurse assistants, radiation therapists, and certified imaging technicians. Purpose: Using a multi-directional approach, the leadership team worked to improve the culture of the cancer center by implementing interventions across several highlighted categories from the annual employee survey with the overarching goal of retaining clinical staff. Interventions: Interventions included items focusing on reducing burnout and high workload, investing in professional development opportunities, developing a business case for improving salary to market competitive levels, developing trust and transparent communication with staff through multiple channels, and leveraging technology to improve workflows. In addition, there was a focus on leadership presence, completing stay interviews for high flight risk staff, creating internal promotion opportunities, standardizing work to allow the staff to practice at the top of their license and working to improve physician relationships with staff and leaders. Results: Over the course of the fiscal year, the cancer center as a whole saw a reduction in clinical staff turn-over from 42.8% in July of 2024 to 26.70% in June of 2025. The interventions described resulted in a 16% decrease in turnover. Discussion: With the national nursing and healthcare worker shortage expected to worsen in the coming years, retention of knowledgeable and compassionate staff is critical to positive patient outcomes in oncology care. Fostering an environment of trust, clarity, and professional support has been critical in retaining our oncology specialized staff. The focus on the cancer center staff as a whole, with every clinical role included in interventions, has improved camaraderie and created a work environment where staff want to stay. This is exemplified in the scoring and staff comments in our most recent annual employee engagement survey such as "(I feel) I am home" and "I absolutely love my job and the people I work with".
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