How to Combat Nurse Burnout: Strategies That Improve Well-Being and Resilience

Nursing is a truly noble profession, and yet, the nurses who work so hard to support patients face considerable mental and emotional challenges. Burnout represents a worrisome trend, sparking poor well-being while accelerating staffing issues and even reducing quality of care. 

Burnout may be a widespread issue, but it’s not inevitable. Most nurses are still satisfied with their career decisions and remain passionate about their work. What’s more, many are now actively seeking the support they’ve always deserved. 

Emerging policies and best practices promise to safeguard nurses, while shifts in cultural values encourage nurses to seek balance. Mental health is a priority, and today’s nurses are determined to protect it. 

Ready to build your nursing career on your own terms? Look to the empowering nursing programs at Bryant & Stratton College.

Understanding Nurse Burnout

Burnout in nursing is a persistent problem with huge consequences. Cross Country Healthcare’s Beyond the Bedside: The State of Nursing report for 2025 sheds light on the prevalence of this issue, with 65% of responding nurses claiming to experience high levels of stress and burnout.

Similar issues have been brought to light in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s National Nursing Workforce Study. Among nurses showing an intent to leave the profession, over 41% cite stress and burnout as root causes. 

What Is Nurse Burnout?

Burnout describes a state of professionally driven exhaustion that manifests physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. In the context of nursing, it is marked by a persistent sense of stress accompanied by a marked lack of enthusiasm for tasks or opportunities that once felt inspiring.

Nurses experiencing burnout may feel persistently tired, suffering both physical and mental fatigue. They may also experience emotional exhaustion, characterized by a sense of detachment. They may show less empathy towards their patients or general detachment towards their role in healthcare. Over time, these issues damage emotional well-being and could even lead to lower standards of care. 

Why Burnout Is So Common in Nursing

Nurses have long reported high rates of burnout, but this problem accelerated dramatically during the COVID pandemic and has since remained prominent. During the pandemic, reasons for burnout were clear: high rates of infection and hospitalization placed a considerable burden on nursing staff, who simultaneously faced the personal risk of infection. 

Today, ongoing burnout is linked to several challenges, ranging from scheduling concerns to moral injury and compassion fatigue. Understaffing is often cited as a top concern, stemming, in part, from nursing shortages. As a result, nurses may work longer hours, tackling rotating shifts to facilitate 24/7 patient care. 

Meanwhile, moral distress arrives when nurses recognize the ‘right’ or most ethical responses to professional challenges but are unable to pursue these avenues due to workplace constraints. Difficult discussions can take their toll even when moral distress is lacking.

Other nurses struggle with workplace conflict or perceive today’s patients to be more demanding and less empathetic. For example, many nurses believe that today’s patients behave rudely or are uncivil.

These frustrations add up, and while any one challenge may feel manageable, nurses begin to feel burned out when they lack the skills or resources to address such challenges head-on. 

1. Set Clear Work-Life Boundaries

There is no simple solution or blueprint for how to prevent nurse burnout. The profession is stressful by nature, after all. It’s never easy to see patients suffer, and when health crises arise, work demands can escalate dramatically. Despite this, many nurses remain passionate about their work and deeply committed to helping patients. 

Commentary from the journal JAMA Network Open reminds us of the value of empowerment, even as we push for systemic changes capable of reducing healthcare burnout on a wider scale. In other words, organizational systems matter, but individual agency does as well — and it’s more readily available than many nurses realize. 

One of the most impactful solutions for addressing burnout involves the simple, yet elusive concept of balance. Staff shortages may, at first glance, make this seem even more difficult to achieve, but the sheer demand for nurses means that many employers are willing to accommodate those who set clear expectations surrounding overtime or vacation. 

Boundaries apply not only to nurse-patient relationships but also involve advocating with leadership for predictable schedules and reasonable workloads. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic’s Rose Hosler reminds nurses to remain firm about keeping work at work; they must give themselves “permission to shift mentally from work to home.” 

2. Prioritize Physical Health

Nurses may advocate for their patients’ health and well-being, but when stressful situations arise, many struggle to take the same advice they so frequently share on the job: eat healthy, exercise often, and get plenty of sleep. Poor physical health can exacerbate emotional difficulties, with research showing that poor sleep quality particularly increases stress and harms overall well-being. 

Dietary concerns have also been linked to burnout and workplace dissatisfaction. Research suggests that those who eat higher amounts of produce or other healthy foods are less likely to suffer burnout. Meal planning can make it easier to stick with nutrition-packed options when takeout feels tempting. 

Exercise is also a must. Yes, the physical demands of the healthcare environment keep nurses moving throughout each shift, but intentional exercise beyond the workplace can have a restorative effect. Even a short stroll after getting off a shift can be helpful. Yoga is also a great option, providing the chance to release tension and reduce rumination. 

3. Develop Emotional Coping Strategies

Difficult moments are inevitable in nursing; many nurses regularly deal with terminal diagnoses, grief-stricken family members, or morally complex decision-making. These demands are unlikely to disappear, but their impact on everyday well-being can be managed. 

Cross-sectional studies show that “positive coping strategies reduce or buffer the negative effects of work stress on job performance.” Valuable nurse stress management techniques include:

• Mindfulness mantras. Silently repeated phrases can help nurses focus their attention when they feel scattered while limiting rumination and ultimately calming the mind. 
• Journaling. The Wisconsin Nurses Association describes journaling as a powerful tool for processing experiences, adding that this supports stress reduction by helping nurses “clear the mind, organize thoughts, and release pent-up emotions.” 
• Peer debriefing. Social support can make a world of difference following difficult situations, with nurses frequently turning to one another for commiseration. Peer debriefing builds this support into the very structure of nursing, providing continued opportunities for validation.

4. Strengthen Peer Support

The nursing community is close-knit and supportive. Its presence, alone, can make busy schedules or emotional burdens easier to navigate. In nursing surveys, nurses list “relationships with coworkers” as among the most rewarding aspects of their work. 

Peer support is widely available, but it’s not always fully leveraged. Some nurses worry about placing a greater burden on already hardworking colleagues. However, the nursing community benefits most when all nurses band together. We’ve already referenced the value of debriefing, but many nurses are also happy to provide practical support by way of answering questions or jumping in to help with clinical tasks, for instance. 

The secret to bolstering peer support? Find moments to help or commiserate with other nurses. Seek genuine connections built on shared empathy and passion. This may create slightly more work in the moment but ultimately fosters a strong community of nurses who are excited to help each other.

5. Advocate for Workplace Improvements

Burnout can accelerate when change feels out of reach. Thankfully, there are many ways for nurses at all levels to advocate for meaningful reforms. Many nurses are proud members of governance committees, task forces, or quality improvement teams. These groups address a wide range of workplace concerns and look to nurses for frontline perspectives. 

Beyond the workplace, nurses can strengthen community ties through professional associations or unions. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is an especially valuable resource. Many nurses take advantage of ANA’s digital advocacy hub RN Action, which invites nurses to get involved in policy discussions or legislative initiatives. 

Nursing unions bring a structured approach to advocacy, encouraging employers to maintain, for example, safe nurse-to-patient ratios and to provide sufficient breaks or time off. Organizing empowers nurses, fostering robust nurse-to-nurse connections that drive essential changes such as improved staffing levels and required rest periods, both of which can help reduce burnout.  

6. Explore Specialties or Role Changes

A sense of passion can keep nurses feeling enthusiastic even amid considerable workplace challenges. Some nurses may not get the chance to fully embrace their true passion, simply because the expectations of their current roles do not reflect their actual interests or professional strengths. 

One of the best ways to address this is to explore new specialties. This might involve working with different patient populations or in different clinical settings. Consider exploring specializations known for driving high levels of workplace satisfaction: occupational health and gerontology are primary examples. 

Burnout-alleviating changes could also involve a shift away from strictly bedside care. Many other options encourage nurses to leverage their clinical knowledge while developing or utilizing a diverse skill set.

Informatics roles, for example, integrate cutting-edge solutions, allowing nurses to fuel healthcare innovations. Meanwhile, care coordinators manage transitions and arrange necessary services. 

7. Invest in Professional Development

Nursing stress often relates to feelings of uncertainty, especially when nurses lack the clinical or interpersonal skills needed to navigate complex workplace situations. Professional development provides a path to alleviating these issues through sharpened skills.

While we will discuss degree-related opportunities for advancement, professional development is worthwhile even if committed to a current role or level of nursing. This often centers around continuing education credits, earned via classes or workshops, but many nurses also value mentorship. These unique relationships offer both insight and encouragement. 

8. Reconnect With Your “Why”

In emotionally difficult moments, you may feel newly inspired simply by reflecting on the values or personal mission that brought you to nursing in the first place. For instance, you may have entered nursing in hopes of offering comfort to sick patients or advocating for society’s most vulnerable. Remind yourself that these efforts still matter and that you still have the power to improve patients’ lives.

Keep in mind that your “why” may evolve over time. This is natural as you encounter new challenges or opportunities. Rather than resisting this evolution, take time to reflect on your new sources of inspiration and to connect them to the everyday tasks and challenges you encounter as a nurse. 

9. Consider Career Advancement Through Education

Burnout is often exacerbated by feelings of professional stagnation. Nursing career growth can combat burnout by providing a sense of professional growth and accomplishment. This is often achieved through education, with bachelor’s programs potentially expanding specialization and leadership pathways. 

Thankfully, many programs are designed to accommodate working nurses. Bridge programs (such as the RN to BSN) are even available online, accommodating busy nursing schedules while potentially making it possible to apply theoretical concepts in actual healthcare environments. Continue this journey with master’s degrees that may facilitate a shift towards advanced practice registered nursing. 

Grow (or Start) Your Nursing Journey at Bryant & Stratton College    

Gain a sense of purpose and fulfillment as you explore educational and professional possibilities with Bryant & Stratton College. We are committed to supporting you as you take the next step in your nursing journey. 

Get started by earning a practical diploma and becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Expand your clinical skill set with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and work toward possibly fulfilling your potential as a registered nurse. If you’d like to explore nursing specializations or prepare for leadership roles, check out our Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs. Request information about our nursing programs today and uncover your true potential in nursing. 

When to Seek Additional Support

Continue to look for warning signs of burnout in your own life and among your colleagues. There’s no need to suffer in silence; as soon as you spot these signs, reach out to peer support networks or mental health services. 

• Chronic exhaustion
• Anxiety or depression symptoms
• Feelings of detachment
• Thoughts of leaving the profession entirely

Remember: nurse mental health matters and support is a strength — not a weakness.