Career path changes are overlooked reason for midcareer turnover, leader says

AONL member Rob Rose, DNP, RN, says career path changes may be one of the most overlooked reasons for midcareer nurse turnover. Rose, a senior vice president of nursing and CNO of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, says midcareer nurses often seek a change when their careers plateau. He says midcareer nurses, who have five to 15 years of experience, often crave growth and want to lead clinical quality projects, shape product selection or design workflows. However, most hospitals’ advancement pathways for nurses entail a choice between staying at the bedside indefinitely or moving into direct administration or management. Hospitals are lowering midcareer nurse turnover by promoting professional governance, offering flexible scheduling, paying for certifications and tuition assistance and implementing retention programs for advanced degree nurses. (Becker’s Hospital Review article, 10/29/26)