Blog Layout

Nursing Burnout vs. Career Misalignment—Are We Talking About Both?

ZenBusiness Admin • March 18, 2025

When we talk about why nurses leave the profession, burnout is often the first explanation

And for good reason. Short staffing, unsafe workloads, and lack of support are all major contributors to why so many nurses feel exhausted and undervalued. These are real issues affecting nurse retention.


But I’ve also spoken with nurses who left jobs or even left nursing, not because of overwhelming workloads, but because they never found a role that felt like the right fit.


➡️ The ones who kept trying different specialties, hoping the next one would be better.

➡️ The ones who felt disconnected from their work, even in a well-run unit.

➡️ The ones who wondered, Is this burnout? Or am I just in the wrong role?


Burnout Isn’t Always Just About Workload—Sometimes, It’s About the Work Itself.

In my first 15 years, I worked in 10 different specialties. Every time I switched, I thought, Maybe this is the one. But I kept feeling restless, unfulfilled, and questioning whether I even belonged in nursing.


I see so many nurses struggling with the same question:


Am I burned out? Or am I just in the wrong role?


➡️ Some nurses are burned out because of toxic environments, unsafe ratios, or lack of leadership support.

➡️ Others feel drained because their job doesn’t align with their strengths, interests, or long-term goals.

➡️ And some experience both—making it even harder to know what needs to change.


So How Do You Know the Difference?

If you’re feeling exhausted, dreading shifts, or considering leaving nursing, ask yourself:


🔹 Am I burned out because of workplace conditions—short staffing, lack of leadership support, or an unsafe environment?


🔹 Or am I feeling stuck because this role doesn’t align with what I need to feel fulfilled in my career?


🔹 Could it be both?


For some, finding the right specialty makes all the difference, whether at the bedside or beyond.

For others, workplace conditions need to change for them to thrive.


Both are valid. And both deserve attention!


If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re burned out or just in the wrong role, you’re not alone.


I’ve spoken with nurses, leadership teams, and organizations about burnout, career fulfillment, career pathways and retention. These conversations matter because when we help nurses find the right specialty, we don’t just prevent burnout we keep great nurses in the profession.


How did you know when it was time for a change? Or are you still figuring it out? ⬇️ Drop a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts.


💙 If this resonates, feel free to message me. Sometimes, just talking it through helps. And if your team is having these conversations, I’d love to connect.

Your first nursing job isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point.

By ZenBusiness Admin • March 18, 2025
Nursing school is tough, but students push through because they have a clear goal—graduate, pass the NCLEX, and get hired. The long nights, stress, and sacrifices feel worth it because there’s a finish line in sight. But what happens next?

I Stumbled Upon It: Rethinking How Nurses Choose Their Specialties

By ZenBusiness Admin • March 18, 2025
It’s a phrase I’ve heard countless times when nurses are asked about their career paths: “I stumbled upon it.” This casual admission often repeated with a shrug hints at a deeper issue within our nursing education and professional development system. How is it that so many nurses end up in their specialties almost by accident, rather than by design? The Gap in Nursing Education From day one, nursing students are told, “You’ll figure it out.” The focus is squarely on graduating, passing the NCLEX, and stepping into the world of nursing. Many nurses are told to start at the bedside and go from there. While bedside nursing is fundamental, this approach leaves little room for exploring the full spectrum of specialties available in the field. Contrast this with medical training, where students are encouraged and often required to shadow professionals across various specialties. This early exposure not only helps them discover what resonates with their interests but also sets the stage for matching with a specialty that aligns with their long-term career goals. A Missing Career Roadmap After passing the NCLEX, RNs are thrust into a world with abundant possibilities but with little to no guidance. There is minimal to no structured support to help them navigate the nursing specialties available in nursing. Without a clear roadmap, many find themselves in roles that were chosen by default rather than through a deliberate, informed decision making process. This lack of direction can lead to job dissatisfaction and burnout, issues that plague the nursing profession today. The nurses who do find a specialty that feels like a perfect match often have a markedly different and more satisfying career trajectory. The Call for Change It’s time to rethink how we guide our future nurses. By Integrating more shadowing opportunities and adding in nurse career coaching to nursing programs, schools can empower students to make informed decisions about their future. This change wouldn’t just benefit individual nurses it could lead to a more engaged, fulfilled, and resilient workforce overall. we must prepare our nurses for the career decisions that lie ahead, provide the guidance and exposure to various nurse specialties to ensure that every nurse has the opportunity to not just stumble upon, but intentionally find, their ideal nurse specialty. Let’s move away from chance encounters and ensure that every nurse finds their specialty by choice—not by accident.
Share by: