80% of School Nurses Report Burnout—Here’s Why the System Is Failing
It’s a familiar start to the day for many school nurses: by 8 a.m., the line outside the health office is already forming. One student needs asthma medication, another has a fever, and several parents have emailed about vaccination records. Midday brings a playground injury, care plan updates, and a call to the local health department. The pace rarely slows, and for many nurses, it hasn’t eased since the height of the pandemic.
This scenario, now common in schools across the United States, reflects what a new study from George Mason University College of Public Health found: burnout among school nurses remains alarmingly high, even years after the pandemic’s peak. The findings, published in The Journal of School Nursing, show that half of the 1,259 nurses surveyed in 2022 met criteria for burnout. Among those who answered detailed burnout questions, that number rose to 80%.
“The pandemic changed school nursing in ways that didn’t reverse once schools reopened,” said Erin D. Maughan, PhD, RN, associate professor and senior author of the study. “The intensity of that period continues to impact schools and children’s health but has never been properly addressed. There is a new normal of increased stress that is not sustainable for many school nurses.”
The research team, led by Deborah Goetz Goldberg, PhD, associate professor of health administration and policy, found that pandemic-era duties such as contact tracing, public health reporting, and managing evolving health rules often remained part of nurses’ workloads after schools reopened. Many nurses continued carrying these extra responsibilities in addition to full caseloads and growing student health needs.
The study, part of a federally funded project on healthcare workforce resilience, also included Ali Weinstein, PhD, professor of global and community health, and graduate researchers Megan E. Warner and Zill Shah.
Survey participants described fatigue that lasted well beyond school hours. Emotional and physical exhaustion, anxiety, and sleep problems were common concerns. The biggest contributor to burnout was workload. More than one in five nurses said their responsibilities had nearly doubled, without additional staff or time to manage them.
The findings show that burnout affects not only individual nurses but the overall school health system. Here are several takeaways for school nurses and administrators:
- Focus on workload. Half of nurses in the study met burnout criteria, with many citing heavy workloads and unrealistic nurse-to-student ratios. Keeping records of daily duties can help support requests for more staff.
- Encourage leadership support. Nurses who reported open communication with administrators and participation in decision-making experienced less burnout.
- Stay connected. Professional networks such as the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) offer mentorship, community discussions, and mental health resources.
- Support system-wide change. Staffing reform, fair pay, and workplace protections are essential to retain experienced nurses and maintain safe student care.
As co-author Ali Weinstein explained, “Without policy and administrative changes, burnout poses risks to the entire profession, as well as the quality of student health services.”
The study outlines several strategies to reduce stress and improve job satisfaction:
- Adjust nurse-to-student ratios to meet national recommendations.
- Provide structured peer support and access to professional counseling.
- Include nurses in policy decisions and school health planning.
- Offer fair pay, protected time for administrative work, and enforce zero-tolerance policies for harassment or disrespect.
Improving school nurse retention will take more than encouraging self-care. Sustainable change depends on administrative commitment and workplace reform that values the critical role nurses play in student health.
If you’re experiencing persistent stress or burnout, these resources can help:
Even as schools settle into post-pandemic routines, the pressure on school nurses remains intense. Addressing burnout isn’t just about supporting individual well-being—it’s about ensuring every student has access to the safe, consistent care they deserve.
🤔School nurses, what’s the biggest contributor to burnout in your school setting right now? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!
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