School nurse burnout continued after the pandemic, study finds

Fifty percent of school nurses surveyed in 2022 met the criteria for burnout, underscoring persistent systemic challenges after the pandemic ended, a Journal of School Nursing study found. Many school nurses were responsible for contact tracing and enforcing shifting health rules on top of already demanding roles, according to the study of 1,259 school nurses. Nurses said they suffered from emotional and physical fatigue that often extended beyond school hours, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, depressive symptoms and physical effects. Those experiencing burnout were more likely to say they were considering leaving their position or profession. The authors recommend aligning nurse-to-student ratios with national guidelines to reduce workload; stronger administrative and leadership support; built-in mental health and peer supports; and improved working conditions. (George Mason University news article, 2/9/26)