Retaining staff: using turnover indices and surveys

Failure to deal effectively and promptly with high medical intensive care unit (MICU) staff turnover can cause severe problems. This study demonstrates how monitoring turnover indices might have anticipated a critical shortage of experienced staff that forced this hospital to shut down needed MICU beds. Determinative attitudinal factors are identified from a survey of nurses and supervisors. The authors identify critical problem components and recommends measures to increase staff retention.