Nurse leaders are sounding the alarm about the challenges that will shape the future of nursing over the next five years. From worsening staff shortages and burnout to safety concerns and budget pressures, these issues place immense strain on the healthcare system.
As frontline professionals navigate these issues, their insights offer a clear picture of what lies ahead and what must change to ensure a sustainable future. Nurse leaders highlight the top-tier challenges the profession will face in the next five years, which may significantly influence the future of the industry.
Five Biggest Challenges Nursing Leaders Face in The Coming Years
1. Workforce Shortages and Retention
According to a 2025 survey of 3,128 nursing leaders, the top challenge facing the nursing profession is staff recruitment and retention. The current shortage began in 2012 and is expected to continue to at least 2030.
Experts estimate the job growth for RNs at 6%, which is faster than the estimated growth for all industries. Retention is also a challenge for nursing leadership, as roughly 29% of hospital nursing leaders expect to leave their jobs within the next 12 months. According to ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN,
“…the state of the nurse leadership workforce is intrinsically related to the decades-long and unchecked work environment challenges such as workplace violence, burnout, low wages, barriers to practice, and turnover that have placed an unrelenting strain on the nursing workforce.”
“The loss of experienced and effective nurse leaders would be extremely disruptive, exacerbating many of these issues further and causing major setbacks for progress and innovation in health systems and hospitals nationwide,” Kennedy continued.
2. Burnout and Emotional Well-Being
Nursing burnout directly affects nurses at all levels, from bedside nurses to leadership. Financial strain and workplace violence are critical factors. Nursing burnout also directly impacts patient safety and is linked to higher error rates.
In a 2021 study, a survey of 50,000 nurses found that of those nurses who left their job, 31.5% of nurses left because of burnout in 2018, before the pandemic. In 2022, 81% of nurses said they felt burned out in the past year, and their mental health had suffered. In her podcast, Shenell Thompkins, RN, discusses some of these challenges, including high workloads and low staffing. She highlights diverse nursing perspectives and offers inspiration to prioritize self-care.
3. Financial and Budget Constraints
An organization’s financial limitations also pose a significant challenge as leaders work to address the needs of the nursing workforce, such as improving workplace conditions. They are increasingly acknowledging the critical link between patient outcomes and fiscal management.
Limited finances reduce access to resources, including those required for patient care. They delay procurement of critical equipment and supplies, and impact staffing shortages that undermine quality care. A 2025 study assessed nursing leaders’ perceptions of financial management, revealing sentiments such as:
- “We often have to delay purchasing new equipment because the budget doesn’t allow for it.”
- “With fewer nurses, we can’t keep up with patient needs.”
- “Our insights are not always considered in budget decisions affecting patient care quality.”
4. Workplace Safety and Violence
Workplace violence is a recognized hazard in healthcare. While the primary causes of inadequate nurse staffing are burnout, working conditions, and inadequate pay, issues with workplace violence are among the top six reasons. Workplace violence contributes to mental health struggles, a lack of appreciation, and poor working conditions, also among the top six reasons for inadequate staffing.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workplace violence costs the U.S. $151 billion per year, without considering the hidden costs, such as depression, emotional pain, and anxiety.
In 2019, Patti Kunz Howard, president of the Emergency Nurses Association, spoke with CBS News about the violence that nurses face in the ER, saying:
“The reality is if you ask emergency nurses, they will tell you every single shift they work there is some case of workplace violence. It’s a very real challenge in the workplace setting, and it’s no longer OK.”
Anna Dermenchyan, a veteran nurse who sits on the board of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, also spoke with CBS, saying:
“[Violence] is happening very frequently in the acute and critical care populations, where you think patients are too sick. Most incidents involve patients and their families, but it can also come from coworkers, other nurses, and physicians. They don’t teach it in nursing school or medical school. A lot of time is spent on clinical content, but when you get out there in the workplace, this is one of the dangers, and it sometimes takes until someone experiences something to learn how to deal with it.”
5. Integrating Technology and Innovation
Adapting to innovation and managing tech disruption is another challenge nurse leaders face in the coming years. According to the AONL 2025 Nursing Leadership Insight Study, providers are working to adopt new technologies such as advanced staffing platforms, operational dashboards, and digital scheduling tools.
However, implementing these tools requires not only infrastructure but also workforce training and culture shifts. Nurse leaders are also embracing innovation to help close care gaps and promote health equity.
While these advances offer promise, they also introduce pressure to adapt quickly, often with limited resources and staff bandwidth. Success will depend on how well leaders can align innovation with patient needs, staff workflows, and long-term organizational goals.
Help With Nursing Challenges Is One Call Away
Every healthcare organization faces challenges. When you call Tipton Health, we listen to your concerns and help you develop a plan to effectively address the obstacles your organization must overcome.
Our experienced, skilled, and innovative consulting team helps you work strategically, develop nursing leaders, and ensure you employ successful strategies. Call us today for a consultation and learn how we can help your organization improve patient outcomes and nursing retention.