Case StudiesHealthcareMetro Health System
Healthcare

Metro Health System Cuts Nursing Vacancy Rate from 18% to 6% in 12 Months

A regional health system solves critical staffing shortages with credential-verified hiring

HealthcareNursingCredential VerificationRetention

Metro Health System

Healthcare

25,000+ employees
Chicago, IL
Founded 1952
-67%
Nursing Vacancy Rate
-71%
Time-to-Fill (RN)
-73%
Traveler Nurse Spend
-97%
Credential Verification
-38%
Nurse Turnover
+17%
Patient Satisfaction

Overview

Metro Health System, a network of 8 hospitals and 120 clinics serving the greater Chicago area, was facing a nursing crisis. With an 18% vacancy rate and $45M in annual traveler nurse costs, they needed a transformative solution to attract, verify, and retain nursing talent.

The Challenges

Critical Nursing Shortage

18% vacancy rate across nursing positions with 2,400 open requisitions, leading to mandatory overtime and burnout.

Credential Verification Delays

Manual license verification taking 5-7 days per candidate, causing qualified nurses to accept offers elsewhere.

Traveler Nurse Dependency

$45M annual spend on travel nurses at 3x the cost of permanent staff, straining budgets and continuity of care.

Retention Crisis

24% annual turnover rate with exit interviews citing scheduling inflexibility and lack of career development.

The Solutions

Real-Time Credential Verification

Integrated with state nursing boards for instant license verification, reducing credential check time from days to minutes.

Instant RN/LPN license verificationAutomated certification trackingExpiration alerts and renewalsMulti-state compact license support

Nursing-Specific Talent Pipeline

Built dedicated sourcing channels with nursing schools, veteran transition programs, and international nurse recruitment.

Nursing school partnershipsNew grad residency programsInternational nurse pipelineReferral program automation

Retention & Scheduling Integration

Connected hiring data with scheduling systems to match nurse preferences and predict turnover risk.

Shift preference matchingPredictive turnover analyticsInternal mobility trackingCareer pathway planning

Implementation Timeline

Urgent Deployment

3 weeks

Rapid implementation focused on highest-vacancy units: ICU, ED, and Med-Surg.

Critical care units live
Credential verification automated
Urgent hiring campaigns launched
Recruiter training completed

System-Wide Rollout

6 weeks

Extended platform to all nursing units, clinics, and support staff positions.

All hospitals onboarded
Clinic network integrated
Allied health positions added
Reporting dashboards live

Pipeline Development

8 weeks

Established long-term talent pipelines with educational institutions and recruitment partners.

12 nursing school partnerships
International recruitment launched
Veteran program established
Referral program automated

Retention Integration

4 weeks

Connected hiring platform with scheduling and HR systems for retention analytics.

Scheduling integration complete
Turnover prediction model live
Career pathing launched
Stay interview automation

The Results

-67%
Nursing Vacancy Rate
18%6%
-71%
Time-to-Fill (RN)
62 days18 days
-73%
Traveler Nurse Spend
$45M$12M
-97%
Credential Verification
5-7 days< 4 hours
-38%
Nurse Turnover
24%15%
+17%
Patient Satisfaction
78%91%

Magnet Status Achieved

Earned Magnet Recognition for nursing excellence, the highest credential for nursing quality.

$33M Cost Reduction

Eliminated dependency on travel nurses, redirecting funds to permanent staff compensation.

Zero Mandatory Overtime

Adequate staffing levels eliminated mandatory overtime for the first time in 5 years.

What They Say

"We went from crisis mode to having a sustainable nursing pipeline in less than a year. The credential verification alone changed everything—we can now make same-day offers to qualified candidates."

Dr. Amanda Foster
Chief Nursing Officer

"The $33M reduction in traveler nurse costs funded our entire nursing residency program and sign-on bonuses. Nexus paid for itself in the first quarter."

Robert Kim
Chief Financial Officer

"Our nurses feel heard now. The scheduling preference matching and career pathing have transformed our culture. People want to stay and grow here."

Maria Santos
VP of Nursing Operations

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