The nurses managing IVs, anticipating patient deterioration, and comforting distressed patients at 3 a.m. are, according to their own accounts, operating under extreme pressure. Incredible Health’s seventh annual State of Nursing report quantifies a crisis often invisible to patients, revealing a workforce that is no longer passive but actively redefining its role.
These challenges are not hypothetical—they are deeply felt. Seventy percent of nurses surveyed described themselves as physically and emotionally depleted, while 43% reported experiencing moral injury, stemming from being asked to provide care that conflicts with their ethical standards. Additionally, 52% faced workplace violence in the past year, with 70% choosing not to report incidents regularly.
Under such conditions, many nurses are reevaluating their careers. Three-quarters are either job-seeking or seriously considering it, with only 24% remaining solely for personal fulfillment rather than financial or practical reasons. Only 41% expect to still be in direct patient care within five years. However, the data suggests resilience rather than decline: most who consider leaving healthcare aim to transition into other clinical or administrative roles, with just 11% planning to exit the field entirely.
This determination is evident in their rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. AI usage among nurses has nearly tripled in a year, rising from 15% to 44%, and they proactively integrated it into their workflow without waiting for organizational mandates. User feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with 86% expressing satisfaction. Many also utilize AI in job searches, leveraging tools like ChatGPT to refine resumes, practice interviews, or submit applications more efficiently. Despite this, 65% acknowledge they have accepted roles they were uncertain about, simply to conclude their job search.
“AI represents one of the most transformative technologies of our time. Tech companies’ software engineers report 10X productivity gains using AI coding tools,” said Iman Abuzeid, MD, CEO of Incredible Health. “Yet in healthcare, nearly half of AI users see negligible benefits. There’s a critical opportunity for organizations to provide structured AI strategies and training to empower their workforce and address retention challenges.”
This is not a narrative of resignation. The report portrays a profession that is exhausted and often unsafe yet remarkably adaptive. The nurses surveyed clearly identify what would help them stay: better staffing, flexible schedules, career advancement opportunities, and leadership that values their input. These are actionable issues, not insurmountable barriers. The capacity to remain is present; what is needed now is for healthcare institutions to address these demands.”
