A cross-disciplinary Statewide healthcare workforce analysis.

A statewide study was conducted to examine the healthcare workforce from the perspectives of the individual healthcare worker and employer as a basis for evidence-based workforce planning. The workforce minimum data set recommended by Colleagues in Caring was used to analyze job satisfaction, intention to leave current position, intention to leave profession, and reasons for such intentions in members of four professions (medical laboratorians, respiratory therapists, radiographers, and registered nurses) in a rural state. Statewide hospital vacancy and turnover rates for these disciplines also were analyzed. The study found that an aging workforce exists across these four healthcare disciplines. Despite relatively high satisfaction with their positions, a substantial proportion of this sample--over 20% for each profession--reported being "somewhat likely" or "very likely" to leave their position in the next 12 months. Top reasons for these intentions varied by profession and range from career mobility opportunities to job/organization dissatisfaction and stress. Nevertheless, vacancy and turnover rates in the hospital setting for all professions were comparatively modest. Implications for policy and research methods are detailed.