Burnout isn’t a new crisis in the healthcare industry, but the scale of it and its impact on staff turnover rates is. Staffing shortages, mounting workloads, and emotional and physical exhaustion are listed as the major factors contributing to burnout at historic levels. Recent data reveals nearly half (49%) of healthcare workers experienced burnout symptoms, with nurses reporting the highest rates of burnout (56%). According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), about 1.6 million nurses (40%) intend to leave the workforce by 2029.
For organizational leaders tasked with keeping top talent in-house, current talent strategies such as higher pay and wellness programs haven’t resonated enough to move the needle. This highlights that something simpler, more human, is missing.
That missing link? Recognition, and not just from peers or managers. Healthcare workers deserve to receive meaningful and consistent praise from the people they serve every day: their patients.
The Recognition Gap
The data paints a stark picture: only 18% of healthcare workers say they feel meaningfully recognized at work and just 11% receive regular recognition from their managers, according to a report from Achievers Workforce Institute (AWI). Why is this significant? Because frequent and meaningful recognition is directly tied to lower burnout rates, stronger employee engagement, and increased retention rates. In fact, employees who receive frequent, meaningful recognition from their manager are 19 times more likely to trust them, 16.5 times more likely to recommend their company, and nearly 12 times more likely to feel they belong. This is especially powerful in healthcare, where trust and belonging are critical to retention. Yet, healthcare workers are the least recognized across multiple industries, according to AWI data.
The irony here is that healthcare professionals are driven by purpose and impact, but they often don’t hear how much that impact matters. Encouraging managers to give their teams meaningful praise is one part of the equation, but healthcare organizations should also look for ways to help staff build deeper connections with patients. That’s why the voice of the patient is emerging as one of the most powerful tools for boosting morale, strengthening a sense of belonging among healthcare workers, and anchoring retention within the healthcare system.
Recognition That Leaves a Lasting Impact
Patient recognition is essential because it connects healthcare workers directly to the outcomes they care about most. This approach allows healthcare systems to deliver patient feedback directly through its recognition platform, where all staff can see, celebrate, and reward their coworkers for their contributions. This goes beyond the importance of manager recognition by incorporating the voice of the patient with organization-wide visibility. This connects employees to the tangible impact of their collective efforts, deepening their connection to both their patients and their workplace.
When done right, patient recognition does more than drive this connection. It creates a stronger sense of belonging for workers and strengthens retention rates. Patient recognition is also a powerful positive reinforcement tool because it rewards and inspires behaviors that lead to great patient outcomes. Translation? When a healthcare worker is recognized for exceptional patient care, they’re more likely to repeat this behavior.
Beyond its value to care team members, patients want to show appreciation for their healthcare staff. In a 2025 survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, our company found that 59% of respondents want the option to publicly recognize their own or a family member’s healthcare provider through an online recognition feed visible to the provider’s coworkers. Even more telling, 84% said that when a healthcare worker appears burnt out, apathetic, or disengaged, it negatively affects their experience, and 45% have considered or made a provider switch because of it. It’s a clear reminder that disengagement doesn’t stop with the care, it reaches the patient.
A Path Forward
Burnout and turnover won’t resolve themselves. Tackling these challenges requires healthcare leaders to make real, lasting changes to their organizational culture. Recognition straight from patients may not solve the staffing crisis overnight, but it’s a powerful reminder of why healthcare workers choose this calling in the first place.
The message is simple: when employees feel seen, heard, and valued, they are more willing to stay and to keep showing up for patients in big ways, even during difficult times.
Emma Harvie
Emma Harvie helps organizations turn data into action — designing recognition and reward strategies that strengthen culture, engagement, and performance. As Global Head of Recognition & Rewards Insights at Achievers, she leads global research such as the State of Recognition report and advises CHROs on building belonging at scale. A UN Women Australia Chapter Member, Emma is a passionate advocate for equity, inclusion, and culture-driven leadership. You can follow Emma on LinkedIn.
Christy Baggerly
Christy Baggerly is Chief Customer Officer at CipherHealth, a leader in patient engagement and experience technology. With more than 20 years in healthcare operations and digital health, she brings deep expertise in helping health systems strengthen both patient and staff connections. Christy is passionate about workforce engagement, recognition, and collaboration — championing cultures where every team member feels supported and empowered to deliver exceptional care experiences. You can follow Christy on LinkedIn.
