Abstract
Emotional exhaustion in online nursing students leads to attrition in educational and professional settings. Few studies have been performed on practicing nurses enrolled in online programs. The purpose of this study was to explore factors contributing to emotional exhaustion in nursing students. Survey methodology targeted licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses enrolled in online programs. Data collected from 116 students included demographics and answers to closed- and open-ended questions regarding emotional exhaustion. Participants reported high levels of emotional exhaustion related to multiple factors. Findings from this study will be used to identify at-risk students and interventions to decrease attrition and increase student success.