Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A 2025 survey of 1,000 U.S. nurses paints a stark picture: three-quarters feel emotionally drained multiple times a week, nearly half can't sleep due to work anxiety, and 74% worked mandatory overtime at least three times in the past month. Experts say the fix isn't just individual resilience — it requires systemic change, from supportive leadership to smarter use of technology.
Nurse burnout isn't a new story, but fresh data from Joyce University's 2025 survey of 1,000 U.S. nurses reveals just how deep the crisis runs. Three-quarters of respondents reported feeling emotionally drained several times a week, 47% said work-related anxiety disrupts their sleep most nights, and 55% regularly skip meals or breaks during shifts. Perhaps most alarming: 74% worked mandatory overtime at least three times in the past month — a pattern experts describe as an "organizational and care model failure," not a staffing solution.
Nursing leaders say the path forward requires action on multiple fronts. Nurses are encouraged to take a seat at the table — joining committees, shaping operational decisions, and advocating for change without waiting to be invited. Organizations, meanwhile, need to foster cultures where rest, mental health support, and reasonable workloads are the norm, not the exception. AI-powered tools, like scheduling assistants and documentation scribes, are already showing promise: at UCSF, an AI scheduling tool led 75% of nurses to report better pacing of their assignments.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: With nursing shortages already straining the healthcare system, burnout-driven turnover creates a vicious cycle — fewer nurses, more overtime, more burnout. Addressing the root causes isn't just good for nurses; it's essential for patient safety and the long-term stability of the healthcare workforce.
