Staffing shortages leading cause of nurses’ poor well-being

Editor's Note

More than half of nurses claim there is insufficient staff to meet demand, which they say is the worst part of the nursing profession, and results in burnout and feeling overworked--in the 3^rd annual survey from Cross Country Healthcare and Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing--the May 11 Business Wire reports.

Respondents reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety (46%), insomnia (35%), and depression (32%), with 71% saying staffing shortages were the leading cause of their poor mental health, followed by lack of support resources (55%).

Nearly two in five nurses said their experience with the COVID-19 pandemic added to their feelings of discontent.

Only one-third of nurses surveyed plan to stay in the profession for the foreseeable future, and about one-fourth plan to leave in 1 to 2 years.

The survey of 1,500 nursing professionals and students, titled, “The Future of Nursing: At the Breaking Point,” was conducted between February 22 and April 14, 2023.