Letter to the editor: Combating burnout in health care workers

Regarding the article “Survey: 93% of Pittsburgh hospital workers are thinking about leaving profession” (April 25, TribLIVE): The pandemic has exposed many vulnerabilities within health care, one most significantly being the reluctance to improve the circumstances in which the health care workers practice. Sadly, often the misconception is that health care worker burnout is largely due to personal failures, rather than organizational failures.

However, the research this article reviews proves that many of the contributing factors are due to environmental and organizational factors. As a nurse myself, I recognize that an alternative solution to combat burnout is needed, compared to those already being provided. They are not working.

I am part of a group of nurses that is on a mission toward rebuilding the bridge between hospital workers and the organizational leadership. For this reason we have founded Resilient Seven, a platform that will empower resilience among nurses while providing insight to organizations on the needs of their workforce.

Health care is not possible without the health of our front-line workers. I welcome the opportunity to share our vision around how we will support our health care workers through this little-discussed epidemic: burnout.

Joe Zimmerman

Ross