The healthcare industry faces a profound paradox. Healthcare professionals enter their field with genuine passion—a deep desire to care for others and make a meaningful difference in people's lives. Yet many are burning out, not due to lack of compassion, but because of the overwhelming administrative burden that keeps them from doing the work they love.
For mental health awareness month in May 2026, we distributed a quiz to healthcare professionals to help them identify burnout risk and its drivers (you can take the quiz yourself here). We received hundreds of responses from direct care workers and facility leaders, and the data paints a clear picture: The solution to burnout isn't about making people care more. It's about freeing them to focus on providing care.
Despite widespread burnout, healthcare professionals haven't lost what drew them to this industry in the first place.
Fifty-nine percent of direct care professionals say they always or almost always still feel connected to why they got into healthcare. Even more striking: only 8% say they never feel this connection anymore. This data echoes what we found in last year’s Workforce 360 Senior Care Survey Report — 87% of employees and 96% of independent professionals say their passion for helping others motivates them to stay in the senior care industry.
Facility leaders show strong commitment to the industry, too. Seventy percent say they always or almost always feel a sense of purpose in their daily work, and less than 1% say they never feel this way.
This is the golden thread running through our industry: People still want to be here. They still believe in the mission, and they’re still motivated. So what’s causing them to leave?
Burnout isn't theoretical. It's happening right now, across all healthcare roles, and it's reaching crisis levels.
According to our burnout quiz, 43% of direct caregivers finish every shift feeling completely depleted both physically and mentally. Only 11% say they never experience this exhaustion. When you're running on empty shift after shift, burnout creeps in, no matter how passionate you are.
The data reveals an even more troubling pattern among facility leaders — those responsible for setting the tone and supporting their teams.
Facility leaders are often fighting fires instead of coaching, supporting, and developing their teams. This can impact employee retention, quality of care, and the organizational culture.
The burnout crisis is exacerbated by inconsistent support and recognition:
For facility leaders, the picture is different but still concerning. While 44% feel supported by leadership above them and 55% say they have the tools they need, 36% say they can never take real time off without things falling apart.
The solution to burnout is complex and the policy landscape has a long way to go to help this dynamic sector adapt to modern realities. However, there are changes facilities can make now to improve the caregiving experience while improving care quality.
In our Workforce 360 Senior Care Survey Report, more than half of senior care employees said they are excited about trying new technology. That technology can help remove the barriers between healthcare professionals and the work they are passionate about.
Workforce management solutions like OnShift and ShiftKey address burnout at its source by reducing administrative burden for both frontline workers and facility leaders. Here's how:
When facility leaders reclaim time from crisis management, they can invest it in what matters most: supporting their teams, recognizing excellence, and creating the culture of respect that direct care workers are hungry for.
When direct care workers aren't burdened by administrative friction, they can finish their shifts knowing they made a difference instead of feeling depleted.
The most important finding from this burnout quiz uncovers an opportunity.
Healthcare professionals are passionate. They want to work in an industry where they can provide quality care. The organizations that clear the path back to purpose are the ones that will thrive in the competitive workforce market.
Technology isn't about replacing human connection in healthcare. When administrative systems work seamlessly in the background, healthcare professionals can do what they entered the field to do: provide excellent care and build meaningful relationships with the people they serve.
That's good for worker retention. It's good for patients. It's good for facility leaders. And it honors the fundamental reason people choose healthcare in the first place.
Workforce management technology is a necessity for any organization serious about supporting its people and fulfilling its mission. The quiz data shows us that the passion is still there. Now it's time to protect it.
Ready to reduce administrative work at your organization? Schedule your OnShift demo here and explore more resources to get back to care here.