Let’s talk about something real — burnout.

Not the kind you brush off with a tired laugh and a “just one more shift” or “TGIF I need the weekend so bad I could cry” mindset, but the kind that settles deep into your psyche. The kind that makes it hard to feel present, let alone passionate. The kind that creeps in slowly, leaving you with crippling exhaustion, until one day you find yourself questioning if you can keep doing this work you once loved.

If you’ve ever felt that kind of burnout, you’re not alone — and more importantly, you’re not weak. Most importantly, you are not a bad nurse.

You’re human. And humans need support.

The Weight Nurses Carry

As nurses, we carry so much — physically, emotionally, spiritually. We’re expected to be the calm in the storm, the fixer, the listener, the strong one. Someone who keeps it all together while juggling 5 tasks at once. But when the weight becomes too much, silence can be dangerous. That’s where a support system becomes not just helpful, but vital.

What a Support System Can Do

A true support system — whether it’s friends, coworkers, mentors, family, or a community like Nurse Uplift — can be a lifeline or even reinvigorate your love for nursing.

It can:

💙Normalize your feelings — reminding you that you’re not the only one struggling.

💙Give you space to exhale — a place to share without judgment or pressure.

💙Offer fresh perspective — from someone who’s walked a similar road

💙Remind you of your worth — even when you’re doubting yourself

💙Make you laugh — because sometimes that’s the best medicine

Even just hearing “I’ve been there too” can be enough to shift your mindset and help you take that next step.

Reaching Out Is a Strength

Burnout often comes with a side of guilt — like we’re supposed to tough it out, keep our heads down, and keep pushing through. But the truth is, asking for help isn’t a failure. It’s brave.

Leaning into your support system is an act of strength, self-preservation, and long-term sustainability. No one is meant to do this work — or this life — alone.

You Deserve to Be Uplifted

If you’re experiencing stress or burnout, please know that it doesn’t define you. You’re still the compassionate, capable nurse you’ve always been — you just need space to breathe, to feel, and to be held by the people who care about you.

At Nurse Uplift, that’s why we’re here.

This space was created so you never have to feel like you’re carrying it all by yourself.

So take the break. Send the text. Open up. Ask for what you need.

And remember: even in your hardest moments, you are never alone.

We’ve got you. Always.

💙Betsy Kanz, DNP, RN, CPH