RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — The nation could soon be facing a mass exodus of nursing professionals, leading to a shortage in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

That’s the stark warning coming from a survey released by Raleigh startup Feedtrail today.

The startup, a real-time patient and employee feedback platform, partnered with HOLLIBLU, an online healthcare worker community, to query some 1,300 nurses serving nationwide.

Among the most startling results: three out five are likely to leave their position or specialty as a result of their experience with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further data showed 67 percent of respondents will either leave their current facility or quit the industry altogether; and three percent of these nurses have already resigned.

“Nursing professionals nationwide were already experiencing burnout and subsequent turnover,” said HOLLIBLU founder, Cara Lunsford, a former nurse for child cancer patients, in a statement. “The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly accelerating turnover among nurses, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Now more than ever, they need support from their management to help limit the mental, emotional, and physical toll of supporting COVID-19. ”

Feedtrail estimated it could cost the economy $137 billion.

“These findings serve as a reminder about the necessity of giving voice to health professionals on the front lines of patient care, not only during this crisis, but also year round,” said Paul Jaglowski, Feedtrail’s co-founder and CEO, in a statement.

Launched in 2017, Feedtrail is backed by Cary-based Cofounders Capital with headquarters in Raleigh.

“Our mission at Feedtrail, from day one, has been to help healthcare organizations tap into the patient-and-employee experience, in real-time, to actively address potential near-term and longer-term issues, such as large-scale nurse turnover.”