Please confirm that you would like to log out of Medscape.
If you log out, you will be required to enter your username and password the next time you visit.
Log outCancel
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Burnout and depression among nurse practitioners (NPs) have remained high since the pandemic. Far more NPs reported that they were burned out than were depressed. However, many still face the challenges of overwork, stress, and suicidal thoughts as well as the stigma and fears of getting professional help.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
NPs younger than 45 years were more likely to be burned out than were their older peers. NPs who said that they were burned out or both burned out and depressed were also slightly more so than they were in last year's report.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Fourteen percent of NPs reported suffering from burnout so severe (5 on a 5-point scale) that they might consider leaving medicine, the same percentage as last year.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Burned-out NPs younger than 45 were more likely to have experienced burnout for 6 months or less than were those age 45 or older (21% vs 11%).
Burned-out NPs were also more likely to have experienced burnout for more than 2 years than they were in 2022 (27% vs 20%). NPs most often said they have been experiencing burnout for 1-2 years.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Burnout for NPs younger than 45 years dropped from last year, with 20% saying they were less burned out vs 13% in 2022.
This is likely because the pandemic amplified long-standing burnout and stress issues for nurses and NPs and has leveled off in the 3 years since the pandemic began.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
NPs reported that insufficient salary was more of a contributor to burnout for those younger than 45 years than their older peers (55% vs 39%).
Burned-out NPs were also less likely to report stress from social distancing/societal issues related to COVID in 2023 (11%), down from 20% in 2022.
This is likely due to some letup in NP protocols surrounding the COVID pandemic reported from the lived experiences of nurses, such as the fear of passing on the virus to family members, lack of adequate support or protective gear early on, and the stress of increased workload pressure.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
More than one third of burned-out NPs thought that their personality type plays a role in their experiencing burnout.
"I believe that personality types definitely play a significant role in nurse practitioner burnout. In my case, I have found that my unique blend of traits has been a good fit for my role as a nurse practitioner," says Roger Rivera, PMHNP, FNP, a board-certified family and psychiatric nurse practitioner and trauma surgery first assist in Kissimmee, Florida.
Rivera believes that connecting and building rapport with patients allows him to understand their needs on a deeper level. "While this emotional investment is fulfilling, I am also aware of the importance of maintaining a balance," he says.
"The emotional aspect helps guide my treatment decisions, but I have learned that having well-tuned outlets is crucial for avoiding burnout."
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
The percentage of NPs who felt that burnout negatively affected their personal relationships was about the same as last year.
Studies show that burnout personally affects an NP's demeanor, resilience levels, empathy, and concentration and increases irritability, anger, and the feeling of being distant from others, which can lead to depression, exhaustion, and overwhelm, affecting their personal and home life with friends and family.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
This year, burned out NPs were less likely to attempt to alleviate burnout by requesting workflow or staffing changes to ease their workload than in 2022 (35% vs 47%).
In addition, burned out NPs were less likely to attempt to alleviate their burnout by participating in practices such as meditation or stress reduction techniques than they were last year (39% vs 49%).
Instead, they said that more tangible metrics like higher pay, more respect, and a more manageable workload would reduce their burnout.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Burned-out NPs younger than 45 years were more likely to sleep in response to their burnout than were their older peers (56% vs 44%).
Rivera says the practice of martial arts serves as his primary outlet. "I also prioritize mindfulness and self-awareness throughout the day."
He thinks that regular exercise and raising endorphins through working out are also essential for managing work demands. "Some days, I see about 35 patients, and this can take a toll on a person."
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
NPs aged 45 years or older were more likely to report having an employer or workplace offer a program to reduce stress and/or burnout than were their younger peers.
NPs younger than 45 years were more likely to be unaware of any stress/burnout reduction programs that are offered at their workplace than were older NPs.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Slightly less than one quarter of NPs hadn't sought professional help for their burnout and won't consider it – perhaps because of stigma and repercussions to their licensure. However, legislation to remove mental healthcare from state licensure requirements is slowly progressing.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
NPs experiencing depression were less likely to blame the COVID pandemic for contributing to their depression this year than in 2022 (15% vs 29%).
For NPs younger than 45 years, the stress of their profession ranked high (59%) vs their older peers (41%).
Older NPs were more affected by world events (48% vs 32% for younger NPs). Older NPs also said that they were more affected by things happening within their families (29% vs 17% for younger colleagues) as a contributing factor of their depression.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
The majority of NPs who reported burnout and depression had not felt suicidal or attempted suicide. Less than one sixth of NPs surveyed had suicidal ideations but had not acted on them.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Depressed and/or burned out NPs who had contemplated or attempted suicide most often shared their feelings with a therapist, family member, friend, or colleague, at rates similar to last year's report.
The majority of respondents (91%) hadn't had colleagues share suicidal thoughts with them. However, most said they would be willing to speak with those colleagues and recommend professional help. One quarter said that they would speak to a supervisor as well.
"In my generation, there was, unfortunately, a lack of belief in the importance of mental health. It takes time and effort to change mentalities and mindsets that have been deeply ingrained with a singular focus. However, as we continue to work together and learn from one another, sharing our own experiences and demonstrating the benefits of seeking professional help, we can gradually overcome these barriers," Rivera says.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Also, 41% of burned out and/or depressed NPs said that they don't plan on seeking professional care for suicidal thoughts, whereas 25% were currently receiving professional help and 21% had sought help in the past.
Of the burned-out and/or depressed NP respondents who have had suicidal thoughts and not shared them with a professional, the majority believed that they could handle their feelings on their own.
"As a whole, I believe there is a lessening resistance to receiving professional mental health help for burnout and depression in the NP field, and this change is not limited to providers alone. I have observed this shift in the various communities I work in," says Rivera.
Jennifer Nelson | August 10, 2023 | Contributor Information
Again, this year, NP respondents said that spending time with friends and family was their number-one activity for maintaining good mental health and happiness. Those younger than 45 years ranked this especially high (79% vs 67% for older peers).
In addition, NPs younger than 45 years ranked seeing a therapist as a way to maintain mental health and happiness higher than their older colleagues did (20% vs 14%).
Of interest, some respondents older than 45 years selected "other" approaches and wrote in coping mechanisms like spirituality, religion, prayer, walking the dog, spending time with animals, and meditating.
'I Cry but No One Cares': Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023
Burnout is up and is harming physicians' health and relationships. More than 9100 physicians told us what's causing their burnout and depression, how it affects them, and what they're doing about it.Medscape Features Slideshow, Jan 2023
Commenting is limited to medical professionals. To comment please Log-in.
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
Close
Contributor Information
Jennifer Nelson
Features Editor, Reports
Close
References
Close
Image Zoom
Close
Feedback
Please do not use this form to submit personal or patient medical information or to report adverse drug events. You are encouraged to report adverse drug event information to the FDA.
Comments