The average cost of turnover for a single staff registered nurse increased to $61,110 over the course of 2024, according to the 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report.
The report surveyed 450 hospitals in 37 states on registered nurse turnover, retention, vacancy rates, recruitment metrics and staffing strategies.
Here are five more things to know:
1. The average cost of turnover for a staff RN rose by 8.6% over the past year, with costs ranging between $49,500 and $72,700. The $61,110 average marks a notable increase from the 2023 average of $56,300 per RN.
2. Nurses in pediatrics, women’s health and surgical services experienced the lowest turnover rates in 2024. In contrast, behavioral health, step-down units and emergency departments faced the highest. Turnover in surgical services declined to 13.7% in 2024, down from 15.4% the previous year.
3. The national turnover rate for staff RNs declined by 2.4% in 2024, bringing the average down to 16.4%.
4. All regions saw slight improvements in RN retention. The South Central region reported the highest turnover rate at 18%, while the Northeast had the lowest at 14.6%.
5. In 2024, it took an average of 83 days to recruit an experienced RN — three days faster than in 2023. Recruitment timelines varied widely, ranging from 62 to 103 days.
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