Becker's Hospital Review

28 CMO / CARE DELIVERY NPs and burnout: 7 survey findings By Kristin Kuchno Burnout and depression among nurse practitioners have not declined, according to a recent report. Medscape conducted an online survey of 1,525 NPs in the U.S. in March and April. Of the respondents, 88% were women, 10% were men and the most common ages were between 35 and 44. Here are the key findings from Medscape's 2024 "A Silent Struggle: Nurse Practitioner Burnout & Depression Report." 1. Seven in 10 NPs feel burnout and/or depression. Of those surveyed, 37% said they were burned out, 5% said they were depressed and 28% said they felt both. is year's report found these rates have been consistent throughout Medscape's past three annual reports, showing a persistent trend. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach from hospitals and health systems, such as creating a supportive work environment and reducing workload, said the report. 2. Around one in eight said they might leave medicine because of the severity of their burnout. When rating their burnout on a scale from one (it does not interfere with my life) to five (I may leave medicine altogether), the most common answer was three, at 39%. 3. e length of burnout has increased. In 2024, 35% of NPs surveyed said they have felt burned out for more than two years. is is up from 27% in 2023 and 20% in 2022. 4. Bureaucratic tasks contributed to burnout the most. At 58% of respondents, the most common factor contributing to burnout was having too many bureaucratic tasks, such as charting and paperwork. A lack of respect from others, including employers, colleagues and staff, was next, at 47%. 5. Half of NPs said increased compensation would help most with burnout. Similarly, the third most common factor cited in burnout was insufficient compensation/salary, at 45% of respondents. 6. Majority of NPs said the burnout is undercutting personal relationships. While 67% said burnout was negatively affecting these relationships, 74% also said that they have somewhat mitigated the problems. 7. Employers do not recognize burnout problems, more than half of NPs said. Around two in 10 said their employers do recognize the issues with burnout, but 54% said they do not. n Experts weigh nurses practicing before NCLEX results By Ashleigh Hollowell A mid a nationwide push to educate, train and hire more nurses at the bedside, and faster, Rhode Island passed a law that allows new nurses to practice before their NCLEX results are known. But patient safety is a concern. The bill was signed into law June 29 by Gov. Daniel McKee as part of a larger healthcare initiative and brought on by a statewide need for more nurses. "This bill mimics a previous pandemic gubernatorial executive order to accelerate the employment and readiness of new grads while they are awaiting their NCLEX results," Donna Policastro, RN, a retired advanced practice nurse and presently the consultant executive director and lobbyist for the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, an affiliate of the ANA, told Becker's. The previous initiative took patient safety into account by allowing this after the nurse received orientation and onboarding from their employers, Ms. Policastro explained. "It proved to be successful and so a coalition of healthcare employers, nursing schools, ANA-RI and [the Organization of Nurse Leaders] wholly supported this bill," she said. New nurses are already assigned preceptors as they begin their work at a hospital, so allowing nurse graduates to begin practicing while they wait to take the NCLEX or wait for results would not mean they are practicing without oversight. And under the new law, nurse graduates can begin to practice before taking and while awaiting NCLEX results, but they must become licensed within 90 days. "Allowing graduates of accredited registered nursing schools the opportunity to begin their on-the-job training and orientation while the results of their licensure exams and applications are pending promises to bring registered nurses, who remain in critical demand throughout Rhode Island, into the workforce faster by alleviating some of the administrative constraints they have traditionally faced upon graduation," Anitra Galmore, DNP, RN, BSN, chief nursing officer and COO of South County Health in Wakefield, R.I., told Becker's. "We are confident this new law will help bolster the registered nursing workforce with new grads without compromising the quality of care delivered by registered nurses," Dr. Galmore added. n

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