“Fifty-six percent of nurses in a national sample reported burnout symptoms in 2022. Although the nursing literature on burnout dates back to 1978, nurses and other health professionals continue to grapple with this workplace phenomenon that leads to deleterious outcomes, including suicide. The suicide risk among US nurses now surpasses that of physicians. Stories of nurses who have died by suicide or considered it are emerging, and some are similar to this suicide note titled, “A Letter to My Abuser,” which was published as a letter to the editor from the nurse’s parents. More attention is needed to meaningfully address nursing burnout and this can be done by also using an equity lens.”

“A health equity lens is essential for making structural changes in the health care system to address nursing burnout and professional fulfillment. Tailored approaches must be offered that tap into the cultural strengths of minoritized nurses that are often ignored in strategies designed by and for a physician, male-dominated health care workforce. Health care leaders can leverage culturally inclusive professional governance structures to assess workplace inefficiencies that decrease professional fulfillment among nurses. Concurrently, health care leaders should consult with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging leaders to understand the demographics of their workforce.”

Cunningham T, Gonzalez-Guarda RM. Burned Out on Burnout—The Urgency of Equity-Minded Structural Approaches to Support Nurses. JAMA Health Forum. 2023;4(12):e235249.