Half of NPs have been burned out for more than 2 years: 10 things to know

More than half of nurse practitioners reported experiencing burnout, depression or both, according to Medscape’s “Nurse Practitioner Burnout & Depression Report 2026.“

The report, published Aug. 11, collected responses from 770 nurse practitioners practicing in the U.S.

Here are 10 things to know from the report:

1. More than 30% of nurse practitioners are currently feeling burned out, with 7% feeling depressed and 16% experiencing burnout and depression. 
2. More than half of NPs mostly attributed their burnout or depression to job stress, with 14% of male NPs and 22% of female NPs attributing all of their burnout to stress from their job. 
3. Nearly half of NPs said more open communication with their coworkers would not help with burnout, and 66% said more communication wouldn’t help with depression. 
4. Of the respondents who reported burnout or depression, 22% are currently seeking professional help, and another 20% had received professional help in the past. 
5. Almost two-thirds of NPs said that burnout was impacting their personal relationships, but 72% said the impact can be mitigated. 
6. One-fifth of NPs said that the impact of burnout on their personal relationships cannot be mitigated at all.
7. Increased compensation to avoid financial stress, a more manageable work schedule and lighter patient loads were the top three improvements that NPs believe can help reduce burnout.
8. Just 16% of NPs believe that their employer sees the impact of burnout on staff, down from about 20% in Medscape’s 2024 version of the report.
9. Nearly half of NPs have reported feeling burned out for more than two years. 
10. Having too many administrative tasks, insufficient compensation and too many hours at work are the three largest drivers of burnout for NPs.

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