From the podcast: “Today in Nursing Leadership” by theAmerican Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), April 27, 2025
Healthcare leaders know data is everywhere—but using it effectively is often where the challenge begins.
In a recent episode of Today in Nursing Leadership, by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), "Data: The Unsung Hero in Healthcare Workforce Retention", host Bill Klaproth sat down with Larissa Africa, MBA, BSN, RN, CENP, FAONL,FAAN, and Jenna Fisher, DNP, MSMIT, APRN, CNL, NEA-BC, FACHE, to explore how health systems can move beyond simply collecting workforce data—and start using it to solve real challenges around nurse engagement and retention.
Larissa opened the conversation by addressing the common gap in data use across healthcare: “We have a tendency to keep collecting the data. Yes, there’s some analysis, but we fall short because then we don’t use that data to actually strategize on how to continue to develop the workforce.”
Despite abundant access to data—from clinical outcomes to HR and financial indicators—healthcare leaders often don’t have the time or tools to translate that information into meaningful action.
The problem isn’t a lack of data. It’s a lack of visibility, digestibility, and actionability.
Jenna emphasized the need for visibility and clarity: “It’s really taking data, turning it into information to gain knowledge to then take action on.” She stressed the importance of digestible dashboards and tools that make it easier to identify workforce needs and take appropriate action. “It is a way to visually see it, where you can really make some decisions around your next steps that are required for your workforce.”
One of the key areas where data-driven solutions are making an impact?
Digital clinical ladder programs.
For organizations that have implemented digital clinical ladder platforms, the results have been transformative. Jenna shared that “people that are on the ladders… are seeing about a 52% increase in retention over people that are not on the ladders.” Additionally, engagement in these programs is skyrocketing: “We’re seeing an increase in engagement of 223% year over year.”
This kind of engagement is crucial, Jenna noted, because participation itself can be one of the biggest barriers. “When you look at those ladders, they can feel quite overwhelming… but now you have a ladder that’s right in front of you that’s digital, and it makes it easier for the manager to know exactly who they have in the ladder.”
“When the process is digital, you remove friction,” Jenna said. “It becomes easier for clinicians to engage, and for managers to encourage them to keep going.”
The conversation also highlighted how digitizing competency management can dramatically improve efficiency and outcomes. Larissa explained,“Most organizations are managing their clinical ladder and skills checklists using three-ring binders. What we’ve done is build competencies directly into the platform, so that it moves away all of the manual processes.”
The result? Improved visibility, faster performance tracking, and substantial cost savings. “We’ve been able to reduce the time it takes for somebody to reach that competent performance… and we’ve seen an average savings of about $6,000 for organizations,” Larissa shared.
This transparency doesn’t just save time—it improves outcomes. “When we support our nurses’ development, we’re also keeping our patients safer,” Larissa said.
Both Larissa and Jenna emphasized that technology is only part of the solution. The real goal is empowering nurse leaders with actionable insights and creating a culture of growth.
Jenna summed it up well: “Clarity is kind. When you have data, and you’re able to have line of sight into that data through use of technology, that is one of the most important things you can bring to a healthcare system.”
Larissa closed with a powerful reminder: “Let’s use the technology to allow us to harness that power of data and transform these insights into tangible outcomes… Ultimately, it’s about changing lives—of our patients, of our caregivers, and of our nurses.”
To explore how StaffGarden and Ascend Learning are helping health systems digitize, standardize, and transform their workforce development strategies, visit https://ascendhws.com/.
As a leader in ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency in patient care, your role is vital. Sign up to receive Insights in your inbox and get monthly updates, expert perspectives, and practical information to empower your team and elevate patient care.
Ready for a Modern Approach to Clinical Success?
