Maury Regional Health faced many of the same challenges shared by hospitals across the nation: elevated vacancy rates, an overextended float pool and limited visibility into what was actually driving staffing strain.
“We knew we needed both strategic insight and practical support,” said Jenny Robertson, Human Resources Business Partner Team Lead at MRH. “And Qualivis provided that through their Advisory Solutions team.”
Table of Contents
Challenge
Maury Regional Health was experiencing critical workforce pressures. Nurse vacancy rates were rising—especially among seasoned clinicians—and internal solutions weren’t scaling fast enough. The float pool lacked structure, forcing leadership to rely on costly long-term contracts with external agencies and internal traveler arrangements—both of which addressed immediate staffing gaps but failed to deliver sustainable workforce stability.
At the same time, recruitment efforts were falling short. Despite having open positions, applications were not coming in at the expected rate. An Employer Brand Audit, made available through Maury Regional’s partnership with Qualivis, uncovered a critical visibility gap: job postings weren’t showing up in online search results, and its career site was difficult for candidates to find and navigate.
Strategic Approach
To take a deeper look at the issue, Maury Regional turned to Aya Advisory Solutions, a strategic workforce consulting resource provided through its Qualivis partnership. The advisory team conducted a comprehensive workforce assessment and a detailed brand audit, uncovering several key areas of opportunity. With support from the Advisory Solutions team, Maury Regional moved from insight to action:
| Challenges Identified | Actions Guided by Advisory Solutions |
| Elevated vacancy rates, especially among experienced nurses | Launched targeted recruitment initiatives and improved job visibility to attract more applicants |
| Overreliance on internal contracts and travelers | Eliminated internal contracts; redeployed staff into permanent roles |
| Disorganized float pool structure | Restructured float pool for broader access, flexibility and shift-based gig staffing |
| Low engagement with online job postings and limited brand recognition | Improved SEO, revamped careers site and enhanced recruitment messaging to emphasize facility accolades, staff growth opportunities and workplace flexibility |
| Generic or unclear job descriptions | Aligned job postings with MRH’s values, simplified language and highlighted benefits |
| Retention concerns linked to disconnect between leadership and clinicians | Fostered open communication and frontline engagement through stay interviews and leadership rounding |
Culture as a Driver
Maury Regional Health’s leadership knew that staffing stability isn’t just about numbers—it’s about culture. From stay interviews and shared governance to senior leadership rounding and open-door policies, the organization invested heavily in listening to its people.
“Our senior leaders are visible and accessible from day one,” said Tiffany Crews, MSN, RN, CNML, Director of Nursing Professional Development & Magnet Program Director at MRH. “New hires meet them during orientation, and we follow up regularly through stay interviews and rounding. It’s made a huge impact on retention.”
That focus on two-way communication, paired with the operational and brand clarity delivered by Advisory Solutions, helped Maury Regional realign its workforce strategy in ways that were both meaningful and measurable.
Results
- 60%+ reduction in traveler headcount
- 26% improvement in RN retention
- Significant cost savings from reduced contract labor and expanded gig staffing
- Notable increase in job applicants, particularly experienced nurses
- Top ranking in RN satisfaction surveys for culture, values and leadership support
Why it Worked
“Qualivis brought a fresh set of eyes to our normal day-to-day—and that perspective was invaluable,” Robertson shared.
With a fully integrated approach—combining data, consulting, and hands-on support—Qualivis helped Maury Regional Health address immediate gaps and build a stronger foundation for long-term success.