Most healthcare organizations have traditionally treated nursing career pathing as a retention tool designed to keep nurses in roles the organization needs most. As a result, many career paths are narrow and inflexible, falling short of today's workforce expectations and pushing nurses away from the very organization trying to retain them.

Our research suggests a shift is needed. Organizations should reframe career pathing as an engagement strategy. Health systems that invest in diverse, transparent, and flexible career pathways see higher nurse engagement, which drives retention, improves care quality, and strengthens organizational performance. Leaders should redesign career pathways using the key five strategies outlined in this report.