D520 |Task 1| Capstone Summary |latest updated version 2025.

1. Describe the real-world healthcare challenge or need. In healthcare, there’s a real and pressing issue with staff retention - something that impacts both the people working in these settings and the quality of care patients receive. One of the biggest struggles revolves around hiring, onboarding, and employee engagement challenges - all of which contribute significantly to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and turnover. Hiring Challenges Healthcare facilities are constantly looking for skilled workers, especially nurses, allied health professionals, and competent ancillary staff. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in healthcare are on target to grow much quicker than other occupations, accounting for 45% of all jobs through 2032. Due to many factors, including the pandemic, the current staff shortage has reached critical levels, with demand far outpacing the supply of qualified individuals. This shortage forces organizations to scramble for talent, which often leads to positions remaining open for extended periods, placing extra pressure on the existing staff. High turnover rates—especially in nursing—are also a big concern. For example, hospitals report a turnover rate of about 18% for nurses alone (Dzakula et al., 2022). When workers are constantly coming and going, building a stable, experienced team is difficult, which ultimately impacts patient care and increases labor costs. Onboarding Challenges Before onboarding begins, there’s the interview process. New department directors often lack the necessary skills to conduct effective interviews that ensure the best candidate is selected. Once new staff members are hired, they then face an onboarding process that often feels like a series of disconnected, outdated steps. Effective onboarding is critical in healthcare because it helps new hires feel prepared and integrated into the team (Tomaskovic-Devey et al., 2022). Unfortunately, many hospitals and clinics still rely on generic, online, and time-consuming training processes that may not align with what workers actually need to succeed in their specific roles. When these processes lack clarity or proper support, employees can quickly feel overwhelmed or disconnected, leading to faster departures. A lack of mentorship and guidance during this phase can leave new hires feeling isolated and unsupported. National Healthcare Retention & Recruitment Survey reports that more than a third of healthcare turnover happens in the first year of employment. Employee Engagement When employees aren’t engaged, it can lead to a serious disconnect between them and their work, which often results in increased turnover. In healthcare, where the demands are high, and the stakes are even higher, disengagement is especially harmful. When staff members don’t feel emotionally connected to their jobs or the organization’s mission, it can make their work feel meaningless. This lack of purpose can lead to burnout, as employees give their all without feeling a sense of accomplishment or recognition. Disengaged employees often feel overlooked or unappreciated, which only fuels frustration and makes them feel like their efforts aren’t making a difference. Over time, this sense of being undervalued can push them to look for new opportunities where they believe their contributions will be more recognized. Gallup’s research shows that employees who aren’t engaged are much more likely to leave their jobs (Cahill, 2022), which is a big problem in healthcare, where staff retention is already a challenge. When employees are disengaged, they’re less likely to take initiative or collaborate with their colleagues, which can create a negative work environment. In healthcare, where teamwork is critical, this can have a ripple effect, impacting the quality of care provided to patients and making the workplace feel even more stressful. As the disengaged employees leave, they start a chain reaction, with others potentially following suit, leading to higher turnover. In short, when healthcare workers feel disconnected from their work, their passion fades, and they’re more likely to seek out a place where they feel supported and valued. Cultivating a workplace where employees feel engaged, appreciated, and connected to a larger purpose is key to improving retention and ensuring the success of both staff and patients. Impact on Retention When you look at all these factors—high turnover, poor onboarding experiences, and lack of employee engagement – it is clear why many healthcare workers burn out or leave for less stressful opportunities. Retention becomes a constant challenge, and when workers leave, they take with them a wealth of experience, which can negatively affect patient outcomes and the overall work environment. 2. Describe an innovative solution that addresses the challenge or need. Enter your response below.