As we step into 2025, healthcare organizations are facing a mounting challenge—clinician turnover. This issue has only intensified in recent years, with factors like burnout, stress, and poor system adoption contributing to the growing instability within the workforce. However, as we reflect on how to make this year a success, one crucial element that can help reduce turnover and improve clinician satisfaction is effective training.

The State of Clinician Turnover

According to KLAS Research’s Clinician Turnover 2024 report, turnover remains a significant concern in healthcare. High levels of attrition have resulted in increased workloads for remaining clinicians, a disruption in continuity of care, and overall decreased job satisfaction. The report highlights that turnover isn’t just about clinicians leaving; it’s about the ripple effect that happens when new staff members are constantly coming in and out of organizations without the necessary support and training to succeed.

One major takeaway from the report is the importance of developing strategies to improve retention and support clinicians in their roles. A robust training program is a critical strategy to consider as the report highlights that the “lack of EHR education can be detrimental for at-risk clinicians. 40% of nurses and 59% of physicians who did leave their organization report they wanted improved education,” December 2024, Clinician Turnover 2024 – Arch Report.

When clinicians are properly trained, they’re more confident, competent, and satisfied in their roles, resulting in better retention rates.

The Role of Training in Reducing Turnover

Training isn’t just a one-time event—it’s an ongoing investment. As noted by Judy Faulkner in her blog “Hey Judy”, “Good training is one of the most important parts of installing a new system. If we teach users to do things the right way, and we teach them before bad habits get calcified in the brain, they are much more likely to use the software well and to be happy, proficient users. If the users don’t get good training, and instead bad habits get solidified, they might never catch up.”

This quote underscores the critical role training plays in the early stages of EHR adoption. If clinicians don’t receive adequate training before they get comfortable with shortcuts and incorrect processes, they may never be able to overcome these bad habits. This leads to frustration, inefficiency, and ultimately, burnout. When clinicians are unable to efficiently use the tools that are meant to help them, it adds to their already heavy workloads and increases the likelihood of turnover.

Preparing for a Successful 2025

As healthcare organizations look ahead to 2025, investing in training and development must be a top priority. If your teams are not adequately supported with comprehensive, ongoing education, the cycle of turnover will continue, and productivity will suffer. Here’s five ways that healthcare organizations can align training with turnover reduction strategies:

• Implement Continuous Training Programs: Make training an ongoing process, not just a one-time event. Regular refresher courses, support sessions, and real-time assistance can help clinicians stay up to date and prevent bad habits from taking hold.
• Tailor Training to Specific Roles: Clinicians have varying needs based on their roles, and training should reflect that. Role-specific training helps clinicians understand how to use systems in ways that are relevant to their daily tasks, ensuring they feel confident and proficient.
• Emphasize Change Management: Training should be accompanied by strong change management strategies that foster clear communication, accountability, and user engagement throughout the transition to new systems.
• Personalize the Training Experience: Clinicians’ time is valuable, so instead of offering generic training, provide personalized learning experiences that respect their time and address their specific needs.
• Measure Training Success: Regular feedback and performance metrics should be used to assess the effectiveness of training programs and adjust as necessary.

Looking Forward

As healthcare enters 2025, supporting your workforce through comprehensive training and development isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential to reducing clinician turnover and improving the overall work environment. By investing in your clinicians’ skills, you’ll build a workforce that feels valued, empowered, and equipped to deliver high-quality care.

With the right training, you’re not just mitigating turnover; you’re ensuring that your clinicians have the tools they need to thrive in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Let’s make 2025 the year that we empower our healthcare workforce with the support they deserve.