Mental stress and burnout, which experts recently said are contributing to higher workplace injury rates, are some of the top reasons nurses are leaving the health care profession, according to a research study published in the Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, a journal of the American Nurses Association.
The findings, published Friday, found that intense working conditions emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated workplace stress and burnout in nursing, causing many nurses to leave their jobs and creating a workforce shortage.
Earlier this year, experts said increasing rates of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are leading to more hazards and workplace injuries in various professions.
Friday’s study, authored by researchers from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, said that inadequate nurse staffing and turnover are linked with increased costs for health systems and poor-quality patient care.
The authors said they surveyed 629 U.S. nurses across 36 states. Many respondents reported that having workplace support systems in place was the strongest factor in determining whether they intend to stay on the job.
Symptoms of depression, on the other hand, were associated with many nurses deciding to leave their job within a year, the study states.
The researchers urged employers to implement programs, and make available resources, designed to better support nurses who are struggling with work-related mental health issues and stress.