Finding the Sweet Spot: Exploring Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction, Burnout and Resilience

Nurse practitioners (NPs) report concerning levels of burnout that can negatively impact patient outcomes and job turnover. Little is known about how NPs effectively navigate their practice and mitigate worklife stressors. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study explored this gap by investigating burnout, job satisfaction and resilience among 10 hospital-based NPs. Data analysis revealed three key themes: (1) making a difference … keeps me going; (2) finding the sweet spot; and (3) being the safety net. Promoting a healthy work environment requires a targeted plan that involves colleagues, educators and leaders who together address NPs' workplace tensions.