Health
Nurses call for change as many reveal they're ‘extremely likely’ to leave profession: ‘Emotional, stressful'
Nurses aren’t optimistic that this year will be any better than last year — and more than one-third of them are “extremely likely” to change jobs.
That’s according to a new survey by AMN Healthcare, a health care workforce solutions company based in Texas.
The majority of nurses (80%) said they think 2024 will be either “no better or worse” for the profession than 2023 — while 38% said it will be worse.
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Only 20% said they believe this year will be better than last year.
In light of this, 35% of the nurses surveyed said it is extremely likely that they will change jobs in 2024, and the majority (55%) said it is very likely or somewhat likely.
More than one-third of the nurses who took part in a recent survey of 1,155 nurses across the U.S. are “extremely likely” to change jobs. (iStock)
The survey gathered responses from 1,155 nurses across the U.S.
“The concerns that many nurses have about their profession were not created by COVID-19 and have not gone away now that the crisis has passed,” Robin Johnson, group president of nursing solutions at AMN Healthcare, who administered the survey, told Fox News Digital.
“Many nurses still feel overworked and undercompensated. What they want to see is a change in their daily working conditions — better hours, fair compensation and more time with their patients,” she continued.
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“This is not just a nurse morale issue. It’s a public health issue.”
A more engaged, productive nurse workforce means better care and better outcomes for the patients they serve, according to Johnson.
“While the health care industry is acutely aware of this, the survey shows that more work needs to be done.”
“The number of nurses that are currently leaving the profession is the highest level I have ever seen,” a longtime nurse told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Gretchen Berlin, RN, senior partner at McKinsey & Company in Washington, D.C., noted that the company’s research has shown some concerning trends about nursing.
“We’ve surveyed nurses regularly over the past four years, and the data consistently shows that around 30% want to leave their roles in direct patient care,” she told Fox News Digital.
“We’ve also done additional analysis and have projected a shortage of nurses in patient care, which is also concerning.”
“This is not just a nurse morale issue. It’s a public health issue.”
Sabrina Korentager, a registered nurse and adviser to ImpediMed in Kansas, has been a nurse for 28 years.
“The number of nurses that are currently leaving the profession is the highest level I have ever seen,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Even more concerning is the level of nurses leaving the bedside for non-traditional nursing. If this trend continues, we face a significant shortage of nurses to provide care to our aging society.”
Reasons for nurses’ burnout
There are many reasons for nurses’ high levels of burnout, Korentager noted.
“Nurses are called on daily to perform in stressful situations that are emotional and physically demanding,” she told Fox News Digital.
Many patients are asked to work longer hours with less resources, and are asked to care for more patients than they feel they can safely accommodate, experts say. (Martin Barraud via Getty Images)
“They are asked to work longer hours with less resources for providing care. Often, nurses are asked to care for more patients than they feel they can safely [accommodate].”
Nurses are also being encouraged to obtain higher-level degrees to continue working for the same pay and same conditions, Korentager said.
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Other contributors to burnout and job frustration include high patient-to-nurse ratios and heavy workloads, long hours and shift work, emotional and mental stress, inadequate staffing, and a lack of autonomy and recognition. That’s according to Dr. Jane Tang, PhD, professor and dean of the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania.
Pay inequity across the U.S. is also a big challenge, according to Tang.
Ensuring adequate staffing levels can reduce the workload on individual nurses — enabling them to deliver better care and alleviate stress, according to an expert in the field. (iStock)
“For example, in southern states, nurses may be paid less than nurses in California,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Without equitable pay, underserved regions and populations face heightened vulnerability.”
Violence in the workplace has also dramatically increased, Tang said.
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“This isn’t a popular topic to talk about, but it’s a huge threat to the nursing and health professions,” she said.
“The physical and psychological abuse nurses and health professionals endure on a daily basis is unlike [the conditions of] any other profession.”
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated all of these challenges, experts agreed.
What needs to change?
To alleviate the challenges nurses face, Berlin of Washington, D.C., stressed the need to help nurses manage their workloads through delegating certain tasks and offering new technologies.
“One example is implementing technology to support flexible scheduling, which can free up much-needed time for nurses on and off the job,” she told Fox News Digital.
“While it is truly a gift to be a nurse, the feeling of not having enough resources to care for your patients can be overwhelming.”
“In our analysis, we found the potential to free up to 15% of nurses’ time through these types of efforts — time that we could give back to nurses to spend on the aspects of their work that bring them the most joy and satisfaction.”
Mentoring is another way to support new nurses, multiple experts noted.
“Mentoring helps nurses navigate the emotional and stressful challenges they can experience daily.” (iStock)
“Mentoring helps nurses navigate the emotional and stressful challenges they can experience daily,” Korentager said.
“It allows nurses to have guidance and support throughout their careers, which can help with frustration and burnout while providing clarity for career progression.”
Ensuring adequate staffing levels can reduce the workload on individual nurses, enabling them to deliver better care and alleviate stress, according to Tang.
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“Workplace safety is also paramount for the physical and mental well-being of nurses, as is offering mental health support to help nurses navigate the emotional challenges of their profession and prevent burnout,” she said.
“Recognizing and appreciating the hard work and dedication of nurses in meaningful ways further enhances morale and job satisfaction.”
Signs of positive change
Some organizations are optimistic about improvements they’re seeing in the nursing field.
Advent Health, for example, has seen a rebound in nursing staff since the COVID pandemic.
Since 2020, the Florida-based health system has seen 10,000 registered nurses hired across its Central Florida hospitals and clinical care locations since 2020, according to a press release.
“We’ve made incredible strides in fortifying our nursing workforce,” said a representative of AdventHealth. (iStock)
“We knew we needed to make recruitment and retention our organization’s top priority, and so we pledged to invest in our team members like never before and sought to inspire and mentor a new generation of nurses,” said Cathy Stankiewicz, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth’s hospitals in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, in the release.
She said the group has made great strides “in fortifying our nursing workforce.”
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AdventHealth also said it has cut turnover in half since 2020 and reduced reliance on travel nurses by 98% since the peak of the pandemic.
“Hearing directly from RNs about their needs and working together to make meaningful changes was paramount to overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic and nursing shortage,” said Michele Goeb-Burkett, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth’s hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties, in the release.
The group has made great strides “in fortifying our nursing workforce.”
Overall, the experts agreed that nurses’ well-being is integral to patient care.
“While it is truly a gift to be a nurse, the feeling of not having enough resources to care for your patients can be overwhelming,” Korentager told Fox News Digital.
The continued demands to do more with less can negatively impact nurses’ career performance, health and personal life, she warned.
“This may manifest in medical errors, inattention or an overall negative attitude toward the patients. All of these can negatively affect patient outcomes and well-being.”
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The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S.
The Wegovy pill, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight reduction and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Approval of the once-daily 25mg semaglutide pill was based on the results of two clinical trials — the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.
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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a press release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss.
The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S. (iStock)
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.
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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, in the press release.
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”
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The oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the U.S. in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk has also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.
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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version due to individual idiosyncrasies in the body.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” she said.
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“In my practice, I have found tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) to yield more weight loss and fat loss than semaglutide by about 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”
More oral GLP-1s may be coming in 2026, according to Decotiis, including an Orforglipron application by Lilly and a new combination Novo Nordisk drug, which is pending approval later next year.
One expert warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version. (iStock)
“There will be more new drugs available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin-resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as novel drugs affecting more receptors mean better long-term results in more patients.”
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As these medications become cheaper and easier to access, Decotiis emphasized that keeping up with healthy lifestyle habits — including proper nutrition with sufficient protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration — is essential to ensuring lasting results.
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“If not, patients will regain weight and could lose muscle and not enough body fat,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.
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A study from Sweden’s Uppsala University discovered a link between microplastics and multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research, published in the journal Environmental International, discovered that exposure to two common environmental contaminants, PFAS and PCBs, could increase the risk of the autoimmune disease.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, such as non-stick cookware, textiles and cleaning products. They have also been found in drinking water throughout the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic industrial chemicals once widely used in electrical equipment before being banned decades ago, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The new study findings were based on blood samples of 1,800 Swedish individuals, including about 900 who had recently been diagnosed with MS, according to a university press release.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, including non-stick cookware. (iStock)
The first phase of the trial studied 14 different PFAS contaminants and three substances that appear when PCBs are broken down in the body. These were then investigated for a link to the odds of diagnosis.
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“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” lead study author Kim Kultima said in a statement. “People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PCBs had approximately twice the odds of being diagnosed with MS, compared to those with the lowest concentrations.”
The researchers then examined the combined effects of these substances and found that the mixture was also linked to increased risk.
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Fellow researcher Aina Vaivade noted that risk assessments should consider chemical mixtures, not just individual exposures, because people are typically exposed to multiple substances at the same time.
“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
The final phase of the study investigated the relationship between inheritance, chemical exposure and the odds of MS diagnosis, revealing that those who carry a certain gene variant actually have a reduced MS risk.
However, individuals who carried the gene and had higher exposure to PFOS — a singular type of chemical in the PFAS family — had an “unexpected” increased risk of MS.
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“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between inheritance and environmental exposure linked to the odds of MS,” Kultima said.
“We therefore think it is important to understand how environmental contaminants interact with hereditary factors, as this can provide new knowledge about the genesis of MS and could also be relevant for other diseases.”
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective covering of the nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“MS is a complex disease that is somewhat autoimmune and somewhat post-inflammatory,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “Epstein-Barr virus infection greatly increases the risk of MS.”
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“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role, including microplastics, and this important study shows a correlation, but not causation — in other words, it doesn’t prove that the microplastics caused MS.”
The study had some limitations, the researchers acknowledged, including that the chemical exposure was measured only once, at the time of blood sampling. This means it may not accurately represent participants’ long-term or past exposure levels relevant to MS development.
“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several industry groups and manufacturers requesting comment on the potential link between PFAS chemicals and multiple sclerosis.
Several have issued public statements, including the American Chemistry Council, which states on its website that “manufacturers and many users of today’s PFAS are implementing a variety of practices and technologies to help minimize environmental emissions.”
In April 2024, the EPA enacted a new federal rule that sets mandatory limits on certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, aiming to reduce exposure. The agency also aims to fund testing and treatment efforts.
A woman working out outdoors takes a sip of water from a plastic bottle. (iStock)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective coverings that surround nerve fibers, according to Mayo Clinic.
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The immune system’s attack on these nerve sheaths can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking and moving, vision changes and other symptoms, and can lead to permanent damage.
There is currently no cure for MS, Mayo Clinic reports, but treatment is available to manage symptoms and modify the course of the disease.
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