Nursing in 2025: No Relief in Sight as Burnout, Stress & Short Staffing Persist

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 29, 2025--

Cross Country Healthcare (NASDAQ: CCRN), a leader in workforce solutions and tech-enabled staffing, recruitment, and advisory services, today released its fourth annual survey Beyond the Bedside: The State of Nursing in 2025. In partnership with Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the study paints a sobering picture of a profession at a breaking point—where stress, burnout, and chronic short staffing continue to jeopardize the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care nationwide.

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The findings are drawn from 2,600 voices across the nursing profession, including seasoned RNs, LPNs, APRNs, and students preparing to enter the field. Despite the spotlight placed on nurses throughout the pandemic and the promises of reform, little progress has been made—and the consequences are becoming impossible to ignore.

“Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, yet they’re still being asked to carry an unsustainable load,” said John A. Martins, President & CEO of Cross Country. “This year’s report is not just data—it’s a resounding cry for change. If we don’t act now, we risk losing an entire generation of dedicated professionals.”

Key Findings from the 2025 Survey:

“Our data reveals a troubling paradox,” added Dr. Cameron Duncan, Dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University. “While students are hopeful and eager to begin practicing as a nurse, our experienced workforce is sending distress signals loud and clear. This moment requires bold, coordinated action at every level—from nurse educators to hospital executives to national policy makers".

A Roadmap for Reinvention

The report outlines five critical priorities that healthcare leaders must address to stabilize the nursing profession and restore hope:

“This isn’t just about adding perks—it’s about rebuilding trust,” Martins emphasized. “The future of healthcare depends on the well-being of our nurses. We must create a system where they feel heard, valued, and empowered to thrive—not just survive.”

As the nation faces a growing care gap, Cross Country and Florida Atlantic University urge industry leaders to leverage this data to spark real, measurable change—because supporting nurses today is an investment in the health of tomorrow.

To download the full report, visit https://www.crosscountry.com/beyondthebedside.

About Cross Country Healthcare

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. is a market-leading, tech-enabled workforce solutions and advisory firm with 38 years of industry experience and insight. We help clients tackle complex labor-related challenges and achieve high-quality outcomes while reducing complexity and improving visibility through data-driven insights. Diversity, equality, and inclusion are at the heart of the organization’s overall corporate social responsibility program. It is closely aligned with our core values to create a better future for its people, communities, and stockholders.

Cross Country Healthcare (NASDAQ: CCRN), a leader in workforce solutions and tech-enabled staffing, recruitment, and advisory services, released its fourth annual survey, Beyond the Bedside: The State of Nursing in 2025 report. In partnership with Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the study paints a sobering picture of a profession at a breaking point—where stress, burnout, and chronic short staffing continue to jeopardize the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care nationwide.

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — By the time Phil Mickelson reached the 18th green at Oakmont on Friday evening, the once-packed grandstand was maybe a quarter-full. Same for the luxury suites.

There was no grand gesture as the 54-year-old Mickelson loped up the hill. No wave to the crowd the way Arnold Palmer did in the same spot on the same course 31 years ago. No lengthy standing ovation from the gallery in return either.

The man whose decades-long pursuit of the U.S. Open made him a fan favorite in his prime — not unlike Palmer in some ways — instead quietly marked his ball 16 feet from the hole, then walked over to the far edge of the green and stared at the leaderboard that glowed in the rainy twilight.

A birdie would have let Mickelson stick around for the weekend at his 34th — and perhaps last — trip to the national championship. Wearing a white hat featuring the logo of his LIV Golf team, the HyFlyers GC, Mickelson stood over the line trying to get the right read.

When the putt slid a foot left of the hole to keep Mickelson one outside the cut at plus-8, a small groan arose from those who stuck around. There was a shout or two of “We love you Phil!” Along the railing, a man leaned toward a friend and said, "His exemption is done. No more U.S. Open for you Phil.”

Maybe, maybe not.

The five-year exemption into the tournament that Mickelson received when he captured the 2021 PGA Championship is expiring. Whether he'll be back to make a run at the one major that has eluded him is anyone's guess.

Mickelson sure isn't saying. He politely declined to talk to reporters after emerging from the scoring area, disappearing into the clubhouse and an uncertain future at a tournament where he's been a runner-up six times.

There are a number of ways for Mickelson to make it to Shinnecock next June. The USGA could offer him an exemption, as it did at Torrey Pines in 2020, though that doesn't appear to be USGA chief championship officer John Bodenhamer's first choice.

“I think the way that we would also think of Phil is we hope he earns his way in, and I think he’d tell you the same thing,” Bodenhamer said Wednesday. "That’s what he did last time. We gave him one and then he went out and won the PGA Championship. So wouldn’t put it past him.”

Mickelson became the oldest major champion ever when he triumphed at Kiawah in 2021 at age 50. A lot has happened since then. Both on the course and off it.

The man known universally as “Lefty” played a major role in LIV Golf's rise, a move that has taken a bit of the shine off of his popularity back home.

And while Mickelson's game can still show flashes — he really did knock a sideways flop shot into the hole during a LIV event last week in Virginia — and he looks fitter now than he did two decades ago, the reality is the swashbuckling approach that once endeared him to so many doesn't work that much anymore at the U.S. Open.

Mickelson appeared to be in solid position to play the weekend when he stood on the 15th tee. He even on the day and 4 over for the tournament, well inside the cutline. A tee shot into the ankle deep rough at the 489-yard par 4 led to double bogey.

He still seemed to be OK when he got to 17, a short uphill par 4. His tee shot sailed into the rough above a greenside bunker. There would be no magic this time. His attempted flop splashed into the sand instead. He blasted out to 25 feet and three-putted for another double bogey.

That put him in a position he's been familiar with for a long time: heading to 18 at the U.S. Open needing to make a birdie of consequence. It didn't happen. And as he disappeared into the clubhouse, along with it came the realization that at this point, it likely never will.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Phil Mickelson watches his tee shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)