Our Goal

Fostering safe, positive work environments and supporting policies that allow nurses to practice at their full potential is essential to harnessing the full potential of nurses.

Our Challenge

More than 4,250 nurses are employed at Parkland Health. Every day, they remind us that healing is not only about excellence in medicine; it is about presence, empathy and the simple power of being there. The federal government projects more than 203,000 new RN positions opening annually from 2021-2031. The need at Parkland is growing rapidly due to the significant population growth in North Texas, and ongoing training for nurses is critical. Nurses who are engaged and fulfilled in a positive work environment significantly impact the experience of their patients, including their health outcomes, safety and positive word-of-mouth with friends and neighbors.

While nursing is a rewarding profession, the job is, as it has always been, a challenging one. Long hours. High pressure. A demanding workload. Workplace violence and bullying have taken a toll in recent years. Trying conditions, on top of a high number of nurses retiring as the workforce ages, have contributed to a national nursing shortage that threatens both the quality of patient care and the well-being of nurses.

Our Solution

As a teaching hospital, Parkland has prioritized building a pipeline for future nurses through degree tuition reimbursement, as well as increasing the number of nurse residents annually. More than 625 nurse residents and fellows either begin or expand their nursing practice annually through The Parkland Bridge Nurse Residency program. Continued professional development is encouraged, but more funding is needed, particularly around training specific to nurse leaders, training for nurses interested in working in a community clinic settings and through targeted externships for nurses before they begin their residency, so that they might better understand where they wish to specialize.

Over the past three years, Parkland leadership has reduced the nurse vacancy rate from 23.5% to 4.8%; the nurse turnover rate from 23% to 8.8% and the first-year turnover rate from 32.8% to 16.8%. All current rates are under the national median as well as the national 25th percentile. We have the opportunity to build upon this momentum to improve the nursing experience at Parkland even more.

What’s Next?

By supporting Parkland nurses, you can help drive scalable, sustainable solutions that improve health system efficiency and empower patients to take control of their health:

• Nursing Research
• Nurse Leadership Development
• Simulation Training for Community Clinics
• Nurse Externships
• Workforce Safety
• Innovation and technology that transforms the work environment and alleviates stress and burnout