A new era of nursing: Insights from the ANCC National Magnet Conference

Earlier this month, I had the honor of joining my nursing colleagues from across the country at the ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference®, held this year in New Orleans. I’m always humbled to be in the presence of so many extraordinary human beings—true heroes of our profession. The conversations leave me inspired. I am in awe of their stories, and deeply moved by their unwavering commitment to patients and our field.

After speaking with many of the nurse leaders and front-line staff in attendance, it’s become clear that the nursing profession is currently navigating a critical juncture. As they continue to provide exceptional care in increasingly complex environments, nurses are facing unprecedented pressures—and it’s taking its toll: The turnover rate among nurses sits at nearly 20%. While the gains made in workforce engagement since the lows of 2020–2021 are promising, substantial work lies ahead to ensure nurse work environments foster engagement and well-being, as well as improve retention. Healthcare organizations are already taking proactive steps to innovate the future, focusing on the essential work of building a healthier, happier workforce.

Offloading nonclinical tasks to combat nurse burnout

Preventing burnout, retaining staff, and fostering environments that support workforce well-being have always been a critical priority for healthcare organizations and nursing leaders. But challenges in accomplishing those goals have always stood in the way, and grown exponentially in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic only added fuel to the fire—and the road to recovery has been arduous. Nurses, who were already dealing with high-stress conditions, found themselves stretched even thinner, as they faced longer hours, higher patient demands, and increased emotional strain. As a result, morale faltered, burnout skyrocketed, and engagement waned.

But the goal isn’t just to bring engagement back to pre-pandemic levels. It’s to create sustainable, positive work environments that promote well-being and reduce burnout. 

Alleviating the burden of nonclinical tasks is critical to boosting nurse engagement. Many clinical nurses are overwhelmed by administrative duties and responsibilities that take them away from direct patient care. By reducing or redistributing some of these tasks, healthcare organizations can help nurses reclaim valuable time, which, in turn, lets them focus on the aspects of care they are most passionate about and trained to provide.

Leveraging AI for efficiency and safety

AI-powered technologies have had a profound and undeniable impact on many aspects of our workforce and, generally, how we do work today. They serve many purposes, but they’re often used to automate and streamline tasks, easing the cognitive burden on clinicians and improving safety, reliability, healthcare experiences, and clinical outcomes.

AI can assist in clinical documentation, identify patterns in patient data, and flag potential risks. This kind of support reduces time spent on routine tasks, improves accuracy, and helps guide decision-making. As AI technology continues to advance, these tools will play an increasingly pivotal role in streamlining workflows, reducing clinician strain, and elevating the quality of patient care daily practice, further lightening the load for clinicians and enhancing patient care.

AI can also help nurse leaders look inward and assess and optimize performance. We recently launched Nursing Intelligence, as part of our nursing excellence solution, to help nurse leaders monitor and visualize data on nurse satisfaction, patient experience, and clinical outcomes, and compare their results to industry benchmarks. This groundbreaking tool can save nurse leaders countless hours, typically spent manually reviewing and preparing data, by automating the process with machine learning analytics and generating read-to-go reports.

Using data as the compass for strategic action and improved outcomes

One of the most notable applications of AI in healthcare is the use of natural language processing (NLP) and other machine learning models that can interpret and interact with vast amounts of data. These advanced tools can help nurses parse through data more efficiently, providing real-time insights that would have been nearly impossible to extract manually.

Clinicians have always relied on data to inform decisions, but the quality and quantity of available data have expanded rapidly in recent years. And new technologies are transforming how healthcare professionals interact with data. Tools like ChatGPT can help clinicians quickly generate reports, summarize complex data sets, and answer specific questions based on large volumes of information. It’s important to note that, while patients and consumers have embraced the AI revolution—and over a third have already used AI for healthcare-related purposes, 75% expect to be told if AI is behind any communications with their healthcare providers.

Driving nursing innovation through new models of care

As the healthcare landscape evolves, virtual nursing and new acute care models may fundamentally transform how and where patient care is delivered and coordinated.

Virtual nursing has emerged as a strategy to bridge the knowledge-complexity gap in healthcare as well as supplement direct care by taking on the more time-consuming tasks like admissions, discharges, and patient education. This lets bedside clinicians concentrate on urgent care needs, improving efficiency and reducing burnout among on-the-ground teams.

We’re seeing many other benefits as this approach gains traction. Virtual care models are breaking down barriers to healthcare, reaching patients in rural or underserved areas. Virtual nursing makes it possible for these patients to receive timely consultations, follow-up care, and ongoing monitoring without the need to travel long distances. Making care more convenient and accessible improves patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans.

In parallel, acute care models are being reimagined to provide care in outpatient settings or patients' own homes. These prioritize care coordination, aiming to reduce the need for prolonged hospital stays and support faster recovery.

By leveraging technology and expanding care delivery options, we are transforming the landscape of healthcare, with a stronger emphasis on patient-centered care and efficiency.

Yes, the challenges we face are immense. But so are the opportunities to redefine our path forward. Of course, technology isn’t the only solution. The success of these innovations and initiatives hinges on our ability to prioritize the well-being of our nurses and the entire workforce, improve communication, and support collaboration. Only then can we create environments where clinicians truly thrive, which, ultimately, will lead to better care for patients and a more resilient healthcare system. With the right technology, ingenuity, and human-to-human connection, together, we have the power to shape the future of healthcare.

To learn more about Press Ganey’s nursing solutions and consulting services, reach out to a member of my team.