One-third of US nurses plan to quit profession - report

AMN Healthcare Services

01/05/2023 11:29

By Khushi Mandowara and Leroy  Leo
       May 1 (Reuters) - Almost a third of the nurses in the
United States are considering leaving their profession after the
COVID-19 pandemic left them overwhelmed and fatigued, according
to a survey.
    The survey of over 18,000 nurses, conducted by AMN
Healthcare Services Inc  AMN.N  in January, showed on Monday
that 30% of the participants are looking to quit their career,
up 7 percentage points over 2021, when the pandemic-triggered
wave of resignations began.
    The survey also showed that 36% of the nurses plan to
continue working in the sector but may change workplaces.
    "This really underscores the continued mental health and
well-being challenges the nursing workforce experiences post
pandemic," AMN Healthcare CEO Cary Grace told Reuters in an
interview.
    The survey showed there are various changes needed, with 69%
of nurses seeking increased salaries and 63% of them seeking a
safer working environment to reduce their stress.
    This comes at a time hospital operator and sector bellwether
HCA Healthcare Inc  HCA.N  indicated a recovery in staffing
situation.
    While a shortage of staff in hospitals has been an issue for
a couple of years, it gained traction globally in late 2021 and
hit a peak early last year following a large number of
resignations due to burn out.
    The staffing crisis drove up costs at hospital operators,
while boosted profits at medical staffing providers such as AMN
Healthcare.

    

 (Reporting by Leroy Leo and Khushi Mandowara in Bengaluru;
Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
 ((Leroy.Dsouza@thomsonreuters.com ; Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeroyLeo7;))