Mental Health

Nurse burnout is extremely common. The American Nurses Association found that 62% of nurses experience burnout. The rate is even higher among younger nurses at 69%. With two-thirds of nurses experiencing burnout, what can we do?

Physician burnout has been an increasing concern since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), physician burnout is a long-term stress reaction that may express itself as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (an attitude of indifference or lack of empathy), and a reduced sense of achievement.

Healthcare systems are still reeling from changes spurred by the pandemic, progression in healthcare technology, and evolving patient needs. But the healthcare industry isn’t immune to external trends in employment, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining talent, supporting employee well-being, and providing a fair workplace culture and practices. 

Everyone experiences a difficult day or even week on the job. When an employee develops burnout, however, they can experience chronic stress and exhaustion. They may feel cynical, frustrated, and ineffective at their job. This can reduce productivity, increase turnover, and, in clinical roles, lead to medical errors that can put patients in danger.

The pandemic may be slackening, but it’s having a long-lasting effect on the healthcare workforce. A little more than half (52%) of healthcare workers report feeling burnt out, according to a recent USA Today-Ipsos survey.

Staff burnout in 2021 has reached crisis levels, threatening the health of organizations, providers, and patients across the country. Since the start of the pandemic, between 60 percent and 75 percent of clinicians have reported conditions that include exhaustion, depression, sleep disorders, and anxiety, according to Dr. Victor Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine, at a November webinar hosted by U.S. News & World Report.

The number of nurses experiencing burnout is trending up and has been since before the COVID-19 pandemic. That burnout comes with a hefty price tag. The National Taskforce for Humanity in Healthcare estimates that nursing burnout costs hospitals $9 billion every year. Disengagement and lost productivity drive frequent turnover and can result in lost reimbursement from failing to meet patient-satisfaction and quality-care outcomes.