Bedside Nurse Turnover Reaches 18 Percent in 2025
Rising rates of burnout and workplace violence contribute to significant staffing challenges for hospitals nationwide.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Live Poll
Do you trust that hospitals in your area provide a safe and sustainable working environment?
Bedside registered nurse turnover reached 18% in 2025, a notable increase from the 11% rate reported 15 years ago. High levels of burnout and safety concerns continue to drive clinicians toward roles in urgent care, virtual nursing, and advanced practice.
Why it matters
Frequent staff departures create immense financial pressure for healthcare systems, as the cost to replace a single nurse can reach $78,000. These staffing gaps complicate patient care delivery and heighten the impact of burnout on remaining personnel.
Bedside nurse turnover hit 18% in 2025, rising from 11% over the last 15 years. This trend occurs alongside a 26% increase in workplace violence against nursing staff since 2017, with 2.4% of nurses experiencing an attack in 2025.
The players
Emory Healthcare
This major healthcare system based in Atlanta has identified that the financial impact of a single nurse departure reaches approximately $78,000.
The details
Nurses are increasingly shifting their careers toward advanced practice, urgent care, and virtual nursing settings to escape toxic environments. With 43% of nurses reporting they are likely to leave their bedside roles within one year, hospitals face ongoing challenges in maintaining consistent staffing levels.
Timeline
2017: Base year for tracking workplace violence statistics.
2024: Year a major survey of 800,000 nurses was conducted.
2025: Year bedside registered nurse turnover reached 18%.
2026: Year a survey regarding nurse career intentions was completed.
Market Landscape
This turnover surge follows a pattern set by the 2024 nursing industry workforce survey of 800,000 clinicians. The high rate of attrition forces hospitals into an expensive cycle of recruitment and training to compete for the existing nursing labor pool.
High turnover rates at hospitals often lead to longer wait times and staffing shortages for patients seeking care. Readers may also notice increased efforts by health systems to improve retention as facilities attempt to stabilize their nursing teams.
The takeaway
The persistent exit of experienced bedside nurses creates a significant bottleneck for the entire healthcare system. Improving hospital safety and addressing the root causes of burnout are essential steps for facilities looking to reduce replacement costs.
Further reading
For more information on national labor trends, visit our Nursing Jobs section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that hospitals in your area provide a safe and sustainable working environment?
