NCSBN Research Projects Significant Nursing Workforce Shortages
Image © Francine Orr
CHICAGO – Today, NCSBN unveiled its research, titled “Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout & Stress Among U.S. Nurses,” in a panel titled “Nursing at the Crossroads: A Call to Action” in Washing- ton, D.C. at the National Press Club at 9:30 am EST. For the first time, the research findings reveal how the nursing workforce was impacted by the pandemic and how many left the workforce in this period, and forecast how many nurses in the U.S. have an intent to leave the work- force. The research also examined the personal and pro- fessional characteristics of nurses experiencing heightened workplace burnout and stress due to the COVID-19 pan- demic.
The study is considered to be the most comprehensive and only research in existence, uncover- ing the alarming data points which have far reaching implications for the health care system at large and for patient populations. The research was gathered as part of a biennial nursing work- force study conducted by NCSBN and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. Key findings include: • Approximately 100,000 registered nurses (RNs) left the workforce during the COVID-19 pan- demic in the past two years due to stress, burnout and retirements. • Another 610,388 RNs reported an “intent to leave” the workforce by 2027 due to stress, burn- out and retirement. • 188,962 additional RNs younger than 40 years old reported similar intentions. • Altogether, about one-fifth of RNs nationally are projected to leave the health care workforce. • 62% of the sample reported an increase in their workload during the pandemic. • A quarter to half of nurses reported feeling emotionally drained (50.8%), used up (56.4%), fatigued (49.7%), burned out (45.1%), or at the end of the rope (29.4%) “a few times a week” or “every day.” • These issues were most pronounced with nurses with 10 or fewer years of experience, driving an overall 3.3% decline in the U.S. nursing workforce in the past two years. • Licensed practical/vocational nurses, who generally work in long-term care settings caring for the most vulnerable populations, have seen their ranks decline by 33,811 since the beginning of the pandemic. This trend continues. 5
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