The risk of nurse burnout among front-line nurses has garnered much attention in recent months, but chief nursing officers and other nurse leaders work in the same high-pressure environments. Many have taken few, if any days off from managing the operational, disciplinary and organizational stresses. To bring relief, some health systems have incorporated interim executives into their rotations to return permanent nurse leaders to their regular work schedule. The trend emerged in recent months when nurse inquiries rose about carrying paid time off into the next year, revealing how little leave had been used. Interim leaders are typically individuals looking to stay active late in their careers. Placements tend to last approximately 12 weeks. (HealthLeaders article, 3/22/21)
