Member Insight: The great resignation is coming. Is your CDI department ready?

by Susan Sweeney, RN, BSN, CCS, CCDS, CDIP

You may have heard about it in the news or on television; “the great resignation” is what they’re calling it. Nursing turnover is at an all-time high. According to the latest survey from Advisory Board, almost a quarter of all nurses at over 200 health systems are actively looking for a new position or plan to do so in the next 12 months. Those who aren’t aiming to exit nursing altogether are looking for positions where they can use their clinical skills without needing to be by the bedside. 

CDI certainly fits that bill. Whatever their reasoning for wanting a change—more money, COVID-19 burnout, improved work/life balance, additional flexibility, etc.—many of these nurses have a wealth of clinical knowledge that can provide a massive head start in experience compared to those coming fresh from nursing school. Yet while many nurses transitioning to a CDI role are excellent clinically, they often have little to no CDI experience. It’s critically important to set a proper foundation tailored to your program and its needs.