There’s no question that nursing is a rewarding profession. But any nurse will tell you it can also be mentally and physically demanding. Consider the following nurse burnout statistics:
- A 2023 joint survey by the American Nurses Foundation and McKinsey & Company found that 56% of nurses are experiencing burnout — including emotional exhaustion — and 64% say they feel "a great deal of" job-related stress.
- Burnout in nursing is, unfortunately, a widespread problem, and it’s one of the driving forces behind the nation’s nursing shortage.
- The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study revealed that more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022, and nearly 40% intend to leave by 2029, highlighting ongoing labor shortages and systemic workforce challenges.
Whether you're a nurse who is feeling burned out or a nurse leader looking to improve the well-being of your staff, preventing nursing burnout begins with recognizing and understanding its signs and symptoms.
What Is Nurse Burnout?
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that’s not been successfully managed. Nurse burnout refers to the mental, physical, and emotional fatigue that nurses experience. This multifaceted fatigue can lead to a lack of motivation and declining work performance.
Nurses have always been important in health care, but the COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on them when their role became more critical.
The pandemic put nurses under a lot of strain when shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) left many without adequate safeguards, increasing their risk of exposure and infection. Nurses were also working in hospitals and health care facilities that faced surging patient volumes, with many individuals requiring intensive care due to severe complications from the virus. The combination of PPE shortages, increased patient loads, and the severity of COVID-19 cases contributed to nurses experiencing high levels of burnout.
Burnout may be caused by long hours, staff shortages, not feeling valued, and conflict with patients and families. In addition, the stress of constantly providing support to sick and dying patients takes a toll on nurses.
How to Recognize Burnout
Recognizing burnout can be challenging for nurses, as they are accustomed to providing patient care but often neglect their own self-care. Burnout tends to develop gradually rather than suddenly, which can make it hard to spot. Over time, nurses may experience a growing sense of dread about work, diminished job satisfaction, and difficulty maintaining compassion and care.
Symptoms of Nurse Burnout
The American Nurses Association (ANA) states that nurses who are experiencing burnout may feel:
- Overworked
- Unappreciated
- Too tired to work
- A lack of interest in work
Other symptoms of burnout may include:
- Stomach issues
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling depressed
- Getting repeatedly sick due to a poor immune system
- Inability to concentrate
Preventing and Addressing Nurse Burnout
Nursing burnout can negatively affect job satisfaction and performance. Prolonged feelings of burnout may even begin affecting mental health outside of work. Fortunately, there are a few steps that can help mitigate symptoms associated with burnout.
The ANA recommends nurses pay attention to their mental and physical well-being to prevent and manage burnout. Specifically, the ANA suggests these strategies to reduce symptoms:
- Get enough sleep
- Reach out for help
- Exercise
- Eat nutritious meals
- Take a break from work
- Request training
- Practice mindfulness techniques
>> Read: Stress Management for Health Care Workers: Real Tips on How to De-Stress
How Employers Can Address and Prevent Nurse Burnout
Employers, managers, and leaders play an important role in nurse burnout prevention. Preventing burnout isn’t just in the best interest of employees — it can also help improve patient outcomes. Overworked, emotionally drained nurses may struggle to provide the level of patient care they once did.
Here are a few ways employers and nurse managers can address burnout:
- Make self-care part of the company culture. Self-care encourages nurses to pay attention to their own physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Whether it’s tips for creating a self-care routine or providing resources for complementary, alternative, and integrative health practices, self-care should be integrated throughout the culture of an organization.
- Ask nurses what they need. Management should get input from nurses before making workplace policy changes. Asking nurses what they need to ease workplace stress indicates their opinions are valued, and it better equips management to provide solutions that meet the needs of their employees.
- Provide wellness opportunities. Wellness opportunities for employees may include exercise programs, paid volunteer time, or access to counseling services. When developing an employee wellness program, ask nurses what benefits they want.
Further Your Nursing Education Online With Purdue Global
Nurses who care for themselves can offer better patient care. By prioritizing self-care and taking time to focus on other interests outside of work, nurses can mitigate some of the effects of burnout.
Sometimes, changing your nursing specialty or advancing within your career can provide you with a renewed sense of purpose. Purdue Global offers a wide range of online nursing degree programs, including an online RN-to-BSN degree, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and several postgraduate certificates. If you’d like to learn more about earning an online nursing degree with us, reach out for more information today.
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