Therapist-Approved Ways to Manage Nurse Burnout

Learn about nurse burnout and how to manage it.

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Working long hours, witnessing suffering, and facing staffing shortages are just three of the many things nurses must deal with on a regular basis. It’s no wonder that a 2025 systematic review found that one in three (33.5%) nurses worldwide report emotional exhaustion. The numbers speak for themselves: Nursing burnout is a common experience, brought on by what the job entails and the structural issues that accentuate challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on nurse burnout. The 2025 review found that emotional exhaustion was most common among nurses who worked during the start of the pandemic, with nearly 4 in 10 nursing staff members reporting symptoms (39.23%). But the job remains demanding within a system ripe for burnout, including a recent slew of nursing shortages due to inadequate staffing at some of the nation’s leading healthcare providers. 

Read on to learn common signs of nurse burnout — and how to address this condition if it arises.

Causes of nurse burnout

There are so many things in their work environment that can cause nurses to experience burnout. “Nurse burnout is typically caused by chronic workplace stress that goes unmanaged over time,” says Charlie Health Contemplative Practitioner Tairesha “Sunflower” Flemister, LMSW. “Nursing is emotionally, physically, mentally, and even spiritually demanding.”

According to Flemister, some of the common causes include:

• Heavy workloads and long shifts
• Staffing shortages that increase responsibility and pressure
• Frequent exposure to trauma, death, or suffering
• Moral distress, such as feeling unable to provide the level of care patients deserve
• Lack of administrative support or recognition
• Sleep disruption and irregular schedules
• Emotional labor — constantly supporting patients and families while managing personal emotions

Signs of nurse burnout

Nurse burnout symptoms can be far-ranging, impacting them both at work and at home. According to Charlie Health Group Facilitator Bree Williams, LPCA, nurse burnout can cause emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms, including:

Emotional signs

• Irritability
• Emotional numbness
• Reduced empathy
• Feeling detached from patients or coworkers
• Increased cynicism
• Dread before shifts
• A sense that work no longer has meaning

Physical signs

• Chronic fatigue
• Headaches
• Sleep disturbances
• Frequent illness
• Muscle tension

Behavioral signs

• Withdrawing from colleagues
• Making more errors
• Decreased concentration
• Relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance use
• Emotional avoidance

How does nursing burnout affect patient care?

The saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. So, if nurses are burnt out, does that impact patient care? Flemister explains that most nurses she speaks to “deny that burnout affects patient outcomes,” noting that one nurse said it increases her empathy.

But burnout can cause a range of issues, from slower reaction times to lower team morale, says Flemister.

A 2024 systematic review published in JAMA found that nurse burnout was associated with lower patient satisfaction, adverse events or patient safety incidents, and more frequent nosocomial, or healthcare-associated, infections.

Charlie Health Group Facilitator Nicole Lonano, MS, notes that burnout can lead to high nurse turnover, which, in turn, can cause continuity-of-care issues.

“Burnout doesn’t just affect nurses — it can directly impact patient outcomes,” says Williams. “Supporting nurse well-being is therefore not only a workforce issue but a patient safety priority.”

How to prevent (and recover from) nurse burnout

Nurse burnout and compassion fatigue are not signs that someone is doing anything wrong — it’s a challenging thing to prevent in such an intense environment. However, “its impact can be significantly reduced through both systemic and individual strategies,” says Williams. A large part of this falls on each healthcare organization. They are responsible for things such as having enough staff and supportive leadership, encouraging employees to take time for their mental health, and, overall, making sure their employees feel heard.

On a personal level, there are some steps nurses can take to reduce their risk of burnout and cope with it. If you’re a nurse, here’s what you can try for burnout prevention.

1. Protect your basic needs

There are certain basic things you need not only to function, but also to feel well. As much as you can, try to have regular meals, prioritize your sleep, and stay hydrated, says Flemister.

2. Create transition rituals

It can be challenging to separate your work and home life. Take the time to create transition rituals, such as playing calm music on your way home, doing some solo decompressing before interacting with others, or immediately changing your clothes, says Williams. “These rituals help signal to the nervous system that the workday has ended,” she says.

3. Connect with yourself outside of nursing

Being a nurse is an incredible thing, but it’s not the only thing about you. “Equally important is reconnecting with personal identity outside of the nursing role — engaging in hobbies, relationships, and activities that restore a sense of self beyond caregiving,” says Williams.

4. Try to give yourself a moment

Lonano recommends trying, when there’s time, to use coping skills at work. She recommends things such as mindful handwashing breaks and doing physical stretches to release tension from your mind and body.

5. Practice mindfulness

Whether you journal, do a breathing exercise, meditate, or take a walk, there are so many mindful options that can reduce your stress, according to our experts. These steps can help you manage your chronic workplace stress and burnout symptoms.

6. Maintain boundaries

You are in the business of helping people, but sometimes the person who most needs your help is you. Sometimes that means saying no to extra shifts and finding ways to protect your energy. These steps can help you have more energy and resilience in the long term.

7. Lean on your peers

No one understands the stress you’re under or the exhaustion you feel more than your fellow nurses. Whether you’re one of the younger nurses  or experienced nurses on your team, it’s always important to lean on your peers. You can talk through difficult cases with other nursing staff, discuss your emotions, and help each other throughout the day.

8. Go to therapy

Similarly, therapy can be an incredible space to process your emotions and talk about your experiences. A therapist might also be able to help you develop coping skills, learn to set boundaries, and process your emotions.

As Flemister puts it, “Nurses are often praised for being resilient, but resilience does not mean endless endurance.”

How Charlie Health can help  

If you’re a nurse facing burnout related to inadequate staffing, physical exhaustion, or anything else, Charlie Health is here to help. Charlie Health is a virtual behavioral health provider delivering high-acuity treatment for kids, teens, and adults facing serious mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Our innovative treatment model combines clinical expertise, group connection, and measurement-based care to support long-term healing. With the right support, managing your well-being is possible. Fill out the form below to start healing today.