Kansas City healthcare staffing faces significant challenges in today’s workforce environment. Although exact turnover rates for healthcare employees in the Kansas City metro area are not always available, statewide data from Kansas and Missouri paint a clear picture of a workforce under severe strain.
According to the Kansas Hospital Association and Missouri Hospital Association 2024 Workforce Reports, turnover and vacancy rates among healthcare professionals are alarmingly high. For instance, Registered Nurse (RN) turnover rates are around 16.3%, with vacancy rates at 15.6%, leaving many hospitals and clinics struggling to maintain fully staffed teams. Moreover, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Nurse Assistants rank among the top ten roles facing the highest turnover and vacancy rates in the region. Perhaps most concerning, mental health technicians — especially at facilities like Osawatomie State Hospital — are seeing turnover rates approaching 79%, largely driven by workplace stress and safety concerns.
These figures underscore a critical workforce issue that healthcare employers across Kansas City must address to maintain stable staffing levels and deliver consistent, high-quality patient care.
The Overlooked Piece of Healthcare Staffing: Dental Workforce Shortages
While much attention is rightfully given to hospital staffing issues, dental staffing shortages in Kansas City are equally critical but often overlooked. Dental practices are facing many of the same pressures, from a shrinking talent pool to rising turnover, making it difficult to keep chairs filled and patients cared for.
Recent studies show that approximately 19% of dental hygienists have changed employers within a 12-month period, and nearly 27.5% plan to apply for new jobs within the coming year. Adding to these challenges, 31.4% of the dental hygienist workforce expects to retire within five years, signaling an impending talent shortage that will impact practices across Kansas City.
Dental assistants are facing similar turnover and replacement costs. According to data, the average cost of replacing a dental assistant is about $10,000 per practice, and unfilled roles can result in as much as $110,000 in lost revenue annually. Just like hygienists, 27.5% of dental assistants are actively seeking new jobs, creating further instability. (Becker’s Dental; Academy for Dental Assisting; DANB)
The Impact of High Turnover on Kansas City Healthcare and Dental Staffing
The combined effect of high turnover and persistent vacancies in both medical and dental settings is far-reaching. First and foremost, patient care suffers when there are not enough qualified staff to meet demand. This leads to longer wait times, fewer appointment openings, and added pressure on remaining staff. Over time, this strain results in burnout, disengagement, and additional turnover, creating a dangerous cycle that can damage a practice’s reputation and operational stability.
From a business standpoint, the cost of ongoing turnover is unsustainable. Recruiting, onboarding, and training new employees repeatedly not only drains financial resources but also disrupts patient relationships and care continuity. Moreover, lost revenue from unfilled appointments and patient dissatisfaction can have long-term consequences that are difficult to recover from.
What’s Driving the Turnover?
Several key issues are contributing to these troubling turnover rates in Kansas City:
- Workplace stress and burnout remain at an all-time high, especially in post-pandemic care settings where fewer staff are expected to do more with less support.
- Non-competitive compensation and benefits are making it difficult for practices to attract and retain top talent. Many healthcare and dental professionals are leaving for higher pay, better hours, and improved workplace environments elsewhere.
- Limited career advancement and professional development opportunities are pushing employees to seek growth in other organizations.
Together, these factors are making it difficult for healthcare and dental practices to maintain consistent staffing — and this instability directly impacts patient care.
The AGA Group™: Real Solutions to Kansas City Healthcare and Dental Staffing Challenges
At The AGA Group™, we specialize in solving these very challenges. With more than 45 years of healthcare and dental staffing expertise, we have helped numerous Kansas City employers stabilize their workforce and reduce turnover through customized staffing solutions.
Our approach is centered on flexibility, quality, and long-term results. Here’s how we do it:
- Direct Hire Staffing for employers seeking permanent, long-term team members.
- Temporary and Per Diem Staffing to fill immediate gaps due to absences, leaves, or increased demand.
- Temp-to-Perm Staffing to allow employers to assess candidate fit before making a permanent offer.
In addition to filling roles, we focus on retention by ensuring candidates are not only credentialed and vetted but are also a cultural fit for each client’s work environment. Our goal is to help employers build lasting teams, not just fill seats.
Helping Kansas City Employers Stay Competitive in Today’s Market
Beyond staffing, The AGA Group™ offers consulting services to keep your practice competitive in an increasingly challenging job market. We provide:
- Current market intelligence on salary and benefit trends, so employers can offer packages that attract top talent.
- Workplace culture and retention strategy development, helping employers create environments that employees want to stay in.
- Support and advisory services to address staffing issues before they become crises.
Why Kansas City Employers Can’t Afford to Ignore Staffing Issues
Ignoring staffing challenges isn’t just risky — it’s costly. Every day a critical role goes unfilled means:
- Lost revenue from missed patient visits and reduced service capacity.
- Burnout and turnover among remaining staff, perpetuating the staffing crisis.
- Damage to reputation and patient trust, making future hiring even harder.
Proactive staffing solutions are essential for any healthcare or dental organization that wants to survive and thrive in today’s market.
Contact The AGA Group™ — Your Kansas City Healthcare Staffing Partner
If you’re facing staffing shortages, high turnover, or want to plan for future needs, The AGA Group™ is ready to help.
We are more than a staffing agency — we are your strategic workforce partner committed to helping Kansas City healthcare and dental employers solve their staffing challenges and grow successful teams.
- Call us today: (913) 661-1999
- Visit: www.agasolutionsgroup.com
- Email: info@agasolutionsgroup.com
Let The AGA Group™ help you build a workforce that works — so you can focus on delivering exceptional care.
About the Author
Greg Ikner is the President of The AGA Group™, a Kansas City-based healthcare services firm specializing in medical, dental, and executive recruiting. With over 45 years of experience in life sciences, executive leadership, and staffing, Greg helps healthcare organizations solve workforce challenges through practical, results-driven solutions.
