Who Care for the Nurses? Addressing Burnout in Nursing

About the Author:

Inaara Karim is a part-time student in the Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) program at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Karachi, Pakistan. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at the same institution and holds a registered nurse license. With three years of experience working in the surgical ward at the Aga Khan University Hospital, she is currently serving as a Clinical Nurse 1 in the Department of Surgery at the same hospital.

Let’s imagine Sarah, a dedicated ICU nurse, had always been passionate about her work. However, after years of dealing with critically ill patients, long hours, and understaffing, she started feeling drained. One challenging shift stood out. Sarah was overcome with grief and frustration after a patient she had grown to care about died. She questioned if she was making a difference. As the day went by, Sarah experienced fatigue, loss of empathy, and self-doubt.  Sarah realized she was experiencing burnout. With the help of colleagues and a wellness program, she began prioritizing self-care, seeking mentorship, and rethinking her work-life balance. Sarah's experience emphasizes the need to tackle burnout in nursing to ensure compassion, quality care, and a healthy staff.

Nursing burnout is a major issue nowadays. It affects not only the physical and mental well-being of nurses but also the quality of care provided to patients. According to Galanis et al. (2023), Elevated degrees of burnout were reported by 91.1% of nurses and 79.9% by other healthcare professionals. This shows that substantial levels of burnout were experienced by nurses. Burnout is a condition characterized by emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion which includes feeling drained, developing a negative attitude toward the workplace, and reduced workplace performance. (Brassington et al., 2025). Burnout nurses, practicing in hospitals may notice a decline in the quality of treatment provided to patients as it increases medical errors, decreases patient satisfaction, and compromises patient safety. (Boamah et al., 2025). Burnout in nursing significantly impacts the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”. Thus, it is crucial to understand its causes and address burnout in nurses.

There are many causes of nurses’ burnout. Working long hours in hospitals and performing physically demanding tasks may exacerbate stress. Providing compassionate care to patients with poor outcomes, witnessing patients’ deaths, and dealing with patients’ attendants creates an impact on nurses’ emotional well-being. In addition, nursing staff shortages, working with inadequate resources, and lack of support from management also contribute to burnout. Lack of appreciation and recognition from management and feeling undervalued can reduce workplace performance. Bullying, physical and verbal abuse, and other forms of workplace harassment create anxiety, depression, and burnout.

There are several strategies to address burnout among nurses. Çınar et al. (2023) report encouraging nurses to prioritize self-care activities which include doing exercise, eating a balanced diet, and adequate sleep to help prevent burnout. Practicing meditation, reading books, deep breathing, playing music, and spending time with friends and family reduces stress and anxiety. Having social support and sharing your feelings with your family and friends also reduces burnout. (Park et al., 2024) Self-awareness is an important attribute. Recognizing your limitations and strengths helps to build resilience. (Reinken & Rizek, 2025). By incorporating these self-care strategies nurses can manage their burnout better.

Another strategy includes fostering a supportive work environment that promotes open communication, teamwork and recognition. Nursing leaders should offer flexible scheduling options to assist nurses with time management, and balance personal and professional life. (Sabei et al., 2023). Furthermore, provides nurses with adequate training, educational resources and mentorship to manage stress and build resilience. Hospitals should conduct wellness programs to promote mental health and hold counseling sessions and annual checkups for employees to prevent burnout.

Nursing is a rewarding career. Stressors that nurses face daily, however, affect both their mental and physical health. Addressing burnout demands a diverse approach that prioritizes nurse’s well-being, supports a healthy work environment, and promotes training and education. By working together, we can build a more supportive and sustainable healthcare environment that promotes nurse’s well-being and prioritizes holistic patient care. Let's take action to address nurse's burnout and create a promising future for nurses.

References

Boamah, S. A., Hamadi, H., Kabir, H., Havaei, F., Webb, F., & Yu, M. J. (2025). Comparative analysis of work-related factors associated with burnout and its dimensions among nursing faculty in Canada and the United States. Nurse Education in Practice, 104358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104358

Brassington, S., Thomas-Hawkins, C., Johansen, M. L., De Cordova, P. B., Cimiotti, J. P., & Zha, P. (2025). Impact of registered nurse staffing, workload, and the practice environment on burnout in emergency nurses. Journal of Emergency Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2025.01.007

Çınar, N., Menekşe, D., Tecik, S., Suzan, Ö. K., & Aydın, İ. (2023). Causes of burnout in nursing seniors: A mixed methods study. Nurse Education Today, 131, 105979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105979

Galanis, P., Moisoglou, I., Katsiroumpa, A., Vraka, I., Siskou, O., Konstantakopoulou, O., Meimeti, E., & Kaitelidou, D. (2023). Increased Job Burnout and Reduced Job Satisfaction for Nurses Compared to Other Healthcare Workers after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nursing Reports, 13(3), 1090–1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13030095

Park, J. S., Kim, H. K., & Lee, M. (2024). Experience of violence, social support, nursing practice environment, and burnout on mental health among mental health nurses in South Korea: A structural equation modeling analysis. Applied Nursing Research, 78, 151819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2024.151819

Reinken, D. N., & Rizek, J. (2025). Strategies to prevent and effectively respond to compassion fatigue and burnout. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 51(2), 205–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2024.10.004

Sabei, S. A., AbuAlRub, R., Yahyaei, A. A., Al-Rawajfah, O. M., Labrague, L. J., Burney, I. A., & Al-Maqbali, M. (2023). The influence of nurse managers’ authentic leadership style and work environment characteristics on job burnout among emergency nurses. International Emergency Nursing, 70, 101321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2023.101321