Filling the Gap: A Practical Guide to SNF Recruitment in a Competitive Labor Market
Skilled nursing facilities across the country are operating in one of the most difficult labor environments in recent memory. Nurse turnover rates at even high-performing, five-star facilities reached 44.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, while one-star facilities reported turnover as high as 53.9 percent during the same period.1
These numbers are more than a human resources statistic. When a unit loses experienced certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs), the remaining staff absorb heavier workloads, resident continuity of care suffers, and the cost of backfilling through agency contracts compounds the financial strain. Research published in Health Services Research found that staffing shortages in SNFs are driven by a convergence of systemic pressures, including wage gaps relative to competing healthcare settings, persistent burnout, and limited career mobility within the long-term care environment.
Contract staffing is not a sustainable solution. Estimates indicate that agency nurses can cost up to three times as much as an equivalent full-time hire, creating operating budget pressure that compounds with every unfilled permanent position. Read more:https://tapestryhealth.com/blo....gs/filling-the-gap-a
