The hits keep coming for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates (PAs) who have faced a burnout crisis for several years. Increasing patient loads, administrative burdens and staffing shortages have pushed advanced practice providers (APPs) to exhaustion.
And now, on top of flu, COVID and RSV season, clinicians also face uncertainty about how the new administration’s policies may affect healthcare.
Recent statistics show that 41% of PAs are experiencing at least one or more symptoms of burnout or are completely burned out. Statistics among NPs are even worse. In Medscape’s 2024 online survey of 1,525 NPs, 37% said they were burned out, 5% said they were depressed and 28% said they felt both.
The emotional and physical toll of the job is real. The good news is that there are ways to combat it. Following are some evidence-based strategies to help you push through this season while protecting your mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Negotiate a contract that sets you up for success
In a job market where demand exceeds supply, you, as an NP or PA, are positioned to negotiate a contract that can work for your life. Research shows a poor healthcare practice environment is a predictor of clinician burnout, so try to choose a job with a positive work environment.
Before accepting a job offer, consider how the workload expectations, on-call hours and administrative responsibilities will impact your well-being.
Negotiating for protected administrative time, realistic patient quotas and enough paid time off can significantly reduce stress and improve job satisfaction. Consider also discussing compensation for extra shifts, clear expectations for charting outside work hours and growth opportunities to help maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Tip: By advocating for these terms upfront, you can create a more sustainable career path that minimizes burnout and enhances long-term job fulfillment.
Get moving
It can be hard to go to a workout after a long day on your feet as a PA or NP, but physical exercise increases your energy levels, improves sleep and helps your mood.
If finding time to exercise is difficult, small movements like taking the stairs, stretching between patients or a 10-minute walk outside can significantly impact your overall well-being.
Tip: Live by the advice you give patients and make time for 150 minutes of physical exercise a week. Even walking at a moderate pace can help your body and your mood.
Learn the power of breathwork and mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help calm a racing mind. Even a few minutes of deep breathing or guided meditation before a shift can reset your focus and reduce stress.
A study on evidence-based mindfulness interventions for healthcare workers showed significant reductions in burnout and perceived stress, with significant increases in resilience and work engagement.
Many health systems offer mindfulness workshops, so take advantage of those opportunities.
Tip: Add a few minutes of mindfulness into your workday by learning a technique that works for you through a course or an app like Calm.
Take the time to debrief
One of the challenges of many healthcare jobs today is the rush that leaves little time to go to the bathroom, let alone debrief. However, prioritizing debriefing sessions after difficult cases is a powerful tool for preventing burnout and improving patient care.
A study at a children’s hospital found that team reflection after a clinical event improved the clinicians’ ability to manage their grief and is associated with lower burnout.
If your organization doesn’t offer formal team debriefings, make time for informal peer check-ins on your own.
Tip: Discussing challenging patient encounters allows you to process emotions, gain perspective and learn from experiences rather than internalizing stress.
Start a new hobby
It seems counterintuitive when you’re already busy and overwhelmed, but adding a new hobby you enjoy to your routine can help you avoid burnout. A study on how hobbies affect mental health found that “leisure activities can immediately improve subjective well?being by eliciting positive emotions, which leads to effective stress?coping strategies in the long term.”
For many NPs and PAs, the line between work and personal life is blurred. Setting clear boundaries is crucial for preventing burnout.
Tip: Consider forcing yourself to make time for a new hobby by joining a pottery class, a book club or a cooking course.
Making the most of available resources
Seek support for burnout before it becomes a problem for your health and your patients’ well-being. Your organization likely offers more resources than you realize. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide mental health support, counseling and wellness initiatives designed to help you navigate professional stress. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Consider finding local community resources or private therapy if this isn’t available through your work.
Tip: Connect with peers and professionals through informal check-ins or structured support groups to help validate your experiences and remind you you’re not alone.
Take care of yourself first
Like the airline safety recommendation to place your own mask on before helping others, you can’t take care of patients well without meeting your own needs first.
As a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, you dedicate your life to caring for others — but you can’t pour from an empty cup. Prioritizing self-care is a necessity.
By implementing small, intentional strategies, you can reduce stress, improve your well-being, and continue providing the high-quality care your patients rely on.
