Nurse Burnout and Wellness: Why Well-Being Can’t Wait
The Wake-Up Call We Can’t Ignore
In nearly two decades of nursing, I’ve seen a lot change—and some things are the same: nurses are incredibly resilient, compassionate, and committed to the work.
And yet, more than ever, I see and hear of nurses struggling. Not because we’re not strong, but because the system seems to be stretching us beyond what’s sustainable. And in many cases, beyond what’s healthy.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. A few years ago, I experienced a season of deep burnout myself—one that reshaped my perspective on wellness, leadership, and sustainability in this work.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary nurses across the country—from the bedside to the executive suite. And what I’m seeing is clear: we are at a tipping point.
Wellness, once viewed as a luxury or afterthought, is now a fundamental operational necessity. Because the truth is, nurses can’t provide excellent care if we’re constantly running on empty.
In this post, we’ll explore why wellness is no longer optional—and what we can do, both individually and collectively, to start building a culture that truly supports the people doing the work.
Nurse Burnout Is a Public Health Crisis
Whether you're at the bedside, in the boardroom, or somewhere in between, the weight of unsustainable systems is taking a real toll.
Here’s what the latest research is showing us—and why it matters:
According to an AMN report in 2023, nearly 1/3 of nurses are considering leaving the profession, with emotional strain and burnout being significant contributing factors.
The U.S. Surgeon General has called clinician burnout a public health crisis, linking it to medical errors, decreased productivity, and declining quality of care.
A 2021 study in JAMA Psychiatry found that female nurses are more than twice as likely to die by suicide compared to women in the general population.
These aren’t just statistics on a slide deck. These are lived realities. They represent real people. Our colleagues. Our teams. Ourselves.
What Burnout Does to the Brain
Chronic stress doesn’t just wear us down—it rewires how we function. It impairs decision-making, memory, and emotional regulation (Verywell Mind). Nurses under stress are more likely to experience tunnel vision, make errors, and feel emotionally numb.
This isn’t about weakness. It’s about human physiology. And it’s why addressing burnout is not only compassionate—it’s critical to safety and quality of care.
We won’t dive too deep into the neuroscience today, but if that’s something you’d like to explore in a future post & video—drop a comment on the YouTube video and let me know.
The Momentum Toward Nurse Wellness
The good news? There is hope, and things are shifting—and not just at the policy level. Momentum is building across the board: inside hospitals, in professional organizations, and among nurses who are stepping up to create change where they are.
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN), launched by the ANA in 2017, now has over 340,000 participants and 600+ partner organizations. It’s a scalable model for nurse wellness, offering challenges, tools, and community support.
The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program introduced new workforce wellness standards in its 2023 Manual—signaling that workplace health is no longer a “nice to have” but a benchmark of nursing excellence.
In 2024, the ANCC launched the Well-Being Excellence™ Program to formally recognize organizations that prioritize the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of nurses.
Visionary leaders like Dr. Bernadette Melnyk and Dr. Jean Watson have been saying it for years: Caring for others begins with caring for ourselves.
And they're not alone. More and more nurses—at all levels—are speaking up, advocating for well-being, and modeling what it looks like to lead from a place of wholeness.
And here’s a fun fact: Provision 5 of the ANA Code of Ethics affirms that nurses owe the same duty to self as to others:
“The nurse has moral duties to self as a person of inherent dignity and worth including an expectation of a safe place to work that fosters flourishing, authenticity of self at work, and self-respect through integrity and professional competence.”
This is no longer about asking permission to prioritize our well-being. It’s about aligning with the very ethics and excellence we’ve always stood for.
Wellness Is a Personal Practice
Let’s be clear: there are serious systemic issues in healthcare that demand our attention—understaffing, moral injury, broken workflows, lack of psychological safety, and unsustainable expectations. And, we cannot gloss over that.
But while we continue to advocate for change at the organizational level, we also can’t afford to wait.
Because the truth is—our well-being can’t be outsourced. It starts with us. It starts from within.
I say this not just as a consultant, Caritas Coach, or nurse leader—but as someone who’s lived it.
A few years ago, I hit a wall. I was burned out—mentally, emotionally, physically.
The kind of exhaustion that doesn’t lift with a day off or a long weekend.
And I’ll be honest—I was embarrassed.
I “knew better.” I was the encourager. The optimist. The one who always had a new frame or fresh perspective. And for a long time, that worked.
But in that season? It wasn’t enough.
No amount of mindset tricks could pull me out of what I was experiencing.
I realized this wasn’t about attitude—it was about deep depletion.
That season didn’t break me—it refined me. It deepened my compassion. And it’s why I care so deeply about this work today.
Wellness looks different for everyone:
For some, it’s therapy.
For others, it’s prayer, movement, solitude, boundaries—or leaving a role that no longer aligns.
There’s no one-size-fits-all blueprint. But there is a universal truth:
Wellness is a practice. A rhythm. A daily choice.
A Simple Wellness Reset Framework
Now, if you’re not quite sure where to start, here’s a quick framework to help you move forward.
Think of this as a reset. Not a life overhaul, but a simple place to start realigning your energy, even in the middle of a busy week.
✅ 1. Block off 10–15 minutes. Make it a non-negotiable appointment with yourself. Put it on your calendar, just like you would for a meeting or a med pass.
❓ 2. Ask two questions:
What does wellness actually look like for me right now?
What’s one small thing I can do this week to move toward it?
🔁 3. Act on one small thing:
Shut off notifications after 8 p.m.
Take a walk during your lunch break.
Say no to one thing that drains you.
Pause, breathe, and check in with yourself for five minutes between tasks.
This isn’t about fixing everything overnight.
It’s about building momentum. Progress, not perfection.
Your Ripple Effect Matters
Wellness isn’t just personal—it’s cultural. And cultures shift when individuals start doing things differently.
When we care for ourselves:
We lead with more presence.
We listen with more empathy and compassion.
We extend more grace.
We set the tone for psychological safety.
We become the kind of colleague, leader, and clinician who makes the environment better for everyone around us.
And those small choices? They add up.
Want to multiply your impact?
Reach out to a colleague this week—especially someone who seems a little off or withdrawn.
Ask how they’re really doing.
Don’t try to fix it. Just pause, give them space to respond, and listen.
Small moments of connection are more powerful than we think. They remind us we’re not alone—and that even in the hard seasons, we still have each other.
The Foundation of Nursing Excellence
As we wrap up this blog today, here is something I’d like to leave you with: Wellness is not a luxury. It’s not optional. It’s the foundation of nursing excellence.
And you don’t need a program, a title, or permission to begin.
Because at the end of the day, systems don’t create excellence—people do.
Let’s be the people who normalize rest, model boundaries, and lead from a place of wholeness.
We’ll keep showing up—stronger, wiser, and more grounded than before.
And remember, on the journey to excellence… You make the difference.
🟢 Want to go deeper? Check out our next post: Stress vs. Burnout vs. Languishing
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