September 11, 2024 from Medscape
Burnout and frustration are leading many nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to disengage from their work—a trend known as quiet quitting. While the term is new, the concept is not: many healthcare professionals are doing only what’s required in their roles, without taking on additional responsibilities, as a way to cope with increasing workloads and workplace dissatisfaction.
A recent survey found that 57% of frontline medical staff, including NPs and PAs, feel disengaged at work. The causes? Overwork, lack of respect, poor leadership, and moral injury.
The Causes of Quiet Quitting in Healthcare
For Melissa Adams, an NP in Alabama, frequent triple-booking, lack of support from administration, and disrespect from leadership pushed her toward quiet quitting. “You’re overworked and underpaid, and you start giving less and less of yourself,” she said.
Some of the key factors contributing to quiet quitting among NPs and PAs include:
- Unrealistic patient care expectations – Seeing complex patients in short time slots without adequate resources.
- Lack of trust and respect – Physicians and administrators sometimes fail to recognize the critical role of NPs and PAs.
- Dissatisfaction with leadership – Feeling unheard or unappreciated by management.
- Moral injury – Knowing patients need more care than they can realistically provide.
- Low pay and poor working conditions – Inadequate compensation for increasing workloads.
What Quiet Quitting Looks Like
For some, quiet quitting means declining extra responsibilities, like training new staff or serving on committees. Others, like Terri Smith, an NP in Vermont, have stopped engaging in leadership discussions altogether. “I stopped saying ‘yes’ to committee work. Now, I just put my head down and take care of my patients.”
While these behaviors help NPs and PAs cope, they can impact patient care, leading to delays, errors, or frustration among healthcare teams.
How to Address Quiet Quitting in Healthcare
Healthcare administrators can take proactive steps to prevent quiet quitting:
- Improve communication: Open conversations about workload, expectations, and challenges.
- Show appreciation: Recognize the value of NPs and PAs and support their professional growth.
- Address workload issues: Ensure fair patient loads and avoid unrealistic expectations.
- Provide fair compensation: Competitive pay and benefits can reduce dissatisfaction.
- Create a collaborative environment: Encourage teamwork and respect among providers.
The Bottom Line
Quiet quitting in healthcare isn’t just about disengagement—it’s a warning sign of deeper issues in the profession. Addressing the causes can help reduce burnout, improve job satisfaction, and ultimately lead to better patient care.
Considering an IME or document review to resolve an insurance claim, legal file, or workplace health and safety issue?
Our specialists provide evidence-based opinions, so get in touch with Western Medical today to learn more about our services.