Bedside registered nurse turnover reached 18% in 2025, as burnout, staffing challenges and workplace violence continue to drive nurses away from hospital roles, The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 19.
The Journal cited data from nurse-placement firm NSI Nursing Solutions showing that bedside nurse turnover has increased from 11% about 15 years ago. Turnover rose during the COVID-19 pandemic before declining as hospitals increased compensation, but climbed again in 2025.
A 2024 survey of 800,000 nurses found that about 40% planned to leave the workforce or retire within five years. A separate 2026 survey found that 43% were likely to leave bedside roles within the next year, up from 38% in 2025.
The trend comes as nurses have more career opportunities outside hospitals, including advanced practice, virtual nursing and urgent care roles. The median annual salary for nurses has reached $97,550, and nursing schools continue to graduate thousands of new nurses annually, according to the Journal.
“There is no shortage of nurses in this country,” Jeff Doucette, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer at healthcare analytics firm Press Ganey, told the Journal. “There’s a shortage of nurses that want to work in the current environment.”
High turnover also carries significant financial implications for hospitals. An analysis of turnover costs at Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare found that the system spends about $78,000 each time a nurse leaves.
Workplace violence is also rising. Press Ganey found that 2.4% of nursing staff experienced an attack in 2025, a 26% increase from 2017.
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