Incision

Press Ganey's newly released State of Nursing 2026 report paints a cautiously optimistic picture of the nursing workforce.

The report shows that engagement and resilience are improving, signaling a shift from workforce recovery toward longer-term sustainability.

Yet challenges remain. Early-career nurses continue to experience the highest turnover rates, and many nurses still struggle to disconnect from work. What stands out is that the strongest predictors of retention are not perks or incentives, but factors such as support, connection, onboarding, leadership visibility, and access to the resources needed to do the job well.

In the operating room, where teams are managing increasing procedural complexity while onboarding new staff and preparing for the retirement of experienced professionals, this raises an important question about how we define support.

At Incision, we believe support goes beyond staffing models and wellbeing initiatives. It also means making knowledge easier to access, expertise easier to share, and preparation easier to achieve. When people feel supported in their work, they are more confident, more engaged, and better equipped to deliver the highest standards of care.

As the conversation shifts from recovery to sustainability, perhaps the focus should shift as well. Beyond staffing numbers and retention metrics lies a more fundamental question: are we creating environments where people can learn, grow, contribute, and feel supported every day they come to work?

Read the full report here:
https://hubs.li/Q04k20xw0