Nurses in New York City face increasing burnout and high turnover rates, prompting a public hearing to address the grave challenges within the healthcare system. The Committee on Hospitals convened a session on November 18, 2025, where experts highlighted acute staffing shortages, workplace violence, and the pressing need for more supportive measures to retain nursing staff.
Nurses raised concerns about chronic understaffing, citing that despite a surge in hiring, current staffing levels fail to meet the demands posed by increasingly complex patient needs. Witnesses emphasized that while official ratios may suggest adequate staffing, the reality often involves heavy workloads that compromise care quality and nurse well-being. For example, one nurse shared that a standard staffing ratio of one nurse to six patients can balloon to one to 15 or even 18 when colleagues are overwhelmed or absent, escalating stress levels significantly (Source: https://youtu.be/L0TDZXzL_Bs&t=5840).
In response to these challenges, healthcare leaders reported various initiatives aimed at improving the nursing environment. The New York City Health and Hospitals (H&H) system has established 20 wellness rooms to support mental health, with over 571,000 visits recorded, indicating a significant need for such services (Source: https://youtu.be/L0TDZXzL_Bs&t=930). H&H also noted efforts to improve recruitment, hiring over 3,400 nurses in 2024 alone, and reported a turnover rate of 10.3%, still below the national average of 16.4% (Source: https://youtu.be/L0TDZXzL_Bs&t=825).
The program aimed at increasing staffing through local hiring events demonstrated some success, particularly at Harlem Hospital, where 60 nurses joined the team. However, retention remains a pressing issue, with ongoing reports of burnout and mental health struggles among nursing staff (Source: https://youtu.be/L0TDZXzL_Bs&t=5840).
Moreover, the meeting underscored systemic issues of workplace violence, which exacerbate existing stress and contribute to nurse attrition. Testimonies revealed that many health workers feel unsafe due to inadequate security responses during incidents, further complicating retention efforts. This heightened pressure forces nurses to juggle their care responsibilities with anxiety over their own safety (Source: https://youtu.be/L0TDZXzL_Bs&t=9748).
Compounding these concerns is the growing burden of student debt impacting new nurse graduates. Witnesses called for better financial support, including loan repayment programs and increased benefits, to attract and nurture nursing talent in the city (Source: https://youtu.be/L0TDZXzL_Bs&t=930).
The urgency of addressing the workforce crisis in NYC’s healthcare system cannot be overstated. Without actionable solutions to improve staffing levels and workplace conditions, both nurses and patients will continue to suffer.
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