How one nurse leader made major improvements in nurse recruitment and retention. When Karen Mayer, RN, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services, began working at Rush Oak Park Hospital 13 years ago, nurse recruitment and retention was a struggle. The nurse turnover rate was about 22%, and some departments had vacancy rates as high as 24%. Today, turnover rates are 8.3%, and the only vacant position she has is one in the operating room. This issue's feature story will tell you how Mayer changed nursing's reputation and its culture to achieve these outcomes. Also, in this issue: - New research on CMS' Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
- Patients are spending more out-of-pocket for healthcare
- A cancer urgent care clinic relieves the burden on the emergency department
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