Burned out!! Help

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi! I am new to this site, and I am relieved and exited to have found support here. It helps me to read others situations and problems in this complex world of nursing. My dilemma is probably not so unusual but I need help deciding what to do next. My first year out of school I worked med-surg, I'm glad I did because it taught me alot, but I just couldn't hang. It was tough. After making a somewhat frightening med error, which my charge nurse made along side me - I decided it was just not a good fit for me. I then decided to go work with a younger population over at a mental health facility (thinking it would be much less acuity and I like kids, plus I have a BA in psych - why not try it?)

Well, after almost a year now, it is another job I can definitely live without. The restraint situations are scary, constant shortage of staff, and basically the RN on duty manages all the psych techs, some of which are horrible to work with! They resent the Rns because they think we make all this big money, they constantly argue about who is doing this or that, and alot of the personalities are just not meant to be working with sick kids. Management turns a blind eye to everything, and says we should work out this stuff among ourselves?? Which I tried. One particular psych tech did not like me and was constantly criticizing me, accusing me of stuff, and gossiping about me to both staff and patients! I finally went and talked with her, and she denied all of it, and said I take things to personally. I went to my manager and she basically said thats just the way she is, don't worry about it! I know they are desparate for staff, but this is why nurses leave. I did not take the job to be harassed, overworked, underpaid, and ignored - without any support - I hate trying to manage the head games on the unit - its sick the way people there treat one another. They are constantly talking about each other, being mean and unprofessional!

Anyway, my question is has anyone else dealt with this sort of thing? I am eligible to transfer in 3 weeks and I am counting down the days. I already told my manager. now where? I am thinking about a doctors office part time. I want to continue to work as a nurse, but this is scaring me- 2 jobs so far that were horrible! My manager is even trying to keep me there by saying I have a "write up" - which it is not. It was a individual performance plan.... things to work on, etc... HR already said a performance recommendation is not a disciplinary action. I have already decided if they try and pull any crap on me I am giving my 2 week notice. I am depressed and losing faith. Is anyone out there happy as a nurse?? Please tell me where you work, and what questions to ask in an interview to get the REAL job description....Thanks to all and god bless.

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Hi Trixie,

I am new here too and, like you, came here looking for support. I have had my share of turmoil in my nursing career and right now I am in school (for RN) working VERY part-time and feeling at times like "what am I DOING!!!???". But I think back to good times and great patients and coworkers and I realize that I LOVE nursing, I just hate all the BS that too often comes along with it.

I really, really wish nursing could have MORE positive environments to work in but I think sometimes you just have to shop around or job hop til you do find one that fits. Good luck.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I fairly happy right now. Nursing is a tough feild, not for the faint of heart. I find though it's the people you work with and the support of management that makes or breaks me. I've had three different jobs in this hospital the last 11 years. I know I'm not done yet either.

Sometimes it just takes time to find a niche and enjoy it. Sometimes we also outgrow our jobs.

I'm glad you decided to give your two-weeks notice if they try to hold you back. Good luck!

(I haven't interviewed in over 11 years, so don't ask me. LOL)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I gripe and complain at times, but I must say I am happy with my job.

I worked for 10 years as an LPN in LTC. I stared out really liking my job, but towards the end not so much. I went back to school for my RN. That whole year my main hope was that I would like nursing again when I fininshed school.

When I fininished I started my first RN job on a medical/tele floor. I can honestly say I like being a nurse again. I have been in my present job for 2 years. I plan to work here a long time, knowing that if I ever start to dislike nursing again I can transfer to another unit and not stay stagnant,

It sounds to me like just haven't found your niche yet. Keep trying other things. The great thing about nursing is that the possiblites are imense.

Noney

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Trixie,

I think everyone has made at least one scary error in their career.

Nursing is a area where you have to learn as you go, not just the knowledge base but how to organize your time, juggle your duties between the phone calls, callbells, family asking questions, the doctors asking about pts. you have not even had a chance to see yet, etc. etc. etc. It never gets easy but with experience you learn to take care of the pt. first and prioritize the rest. For me the stress of waiting for "the disaster" to happen is always with me but after 16yrs of med/surg. you learn to deal with it. So keep trying and you will find your niche and learn how to handle it.

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I actually think I can say I am happy being a nurse. Oh, there are times I think Why am I doing this for all this crap, horrible pay, disrespect....... Then something happens to me at work (good) and it all comes back of why I love doing what I do.

For me, traveling has help in keeping happy at my job. It seems that as soon as I get tired of things, my assignment is finished.

I am NOT advocating that you travel. Find out, in yourself, if nursing is what you really want to do. I know I could NEVER do OB, wouldn't be happy doing it. Maybe for you M/S and psych isn't your thing! OR maybe it is the facility?:confused: Is there another facility in your area that you can go to? Just a though!

Good Luck to you in finding what makes you happy!

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Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

The symptoms you describe are NOT those of "burn out," but of frustration and anger.

The workplace environments you describe are, unfortunately, all too common--as you can readily see by reading this BB for a while.

It may be, or may not be, that a small MD office would provide an environment in which you would feel more comfortable, but not necessarily. Maybe psych day care, or a psych outpatient clinic, or Planned Parenthood, or ....

I don't know of a better way of assessing these matters than interviewing and asking questions and "hanging out" in other facilities to see whether they suit you better.

Good luck.

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Originally posted by Noney

I gripe and complain at times, but I must say I am happy with my job.

I worked for 10 years as an LPN in LTC. I stared out really liking my job, but towards the end not so much. I went back to school for my RN. That whole year my main hope was that I would like nursing again when I fininshed school.

When I fininished I started my first RN job on a medical/tele floor. I can honestly say I like being a nurse again. I have been in my present job for 2 years. I plan to work here a long time, knowing that if I ever start to dislike nursing again I can transfer to another unit and not stay stagnant,

It sounds to me like just haven't found your niche yet. Keep trying other things. The great thing about nursing is that the possiblites are imense.

Noney


This too shall pass
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Thanks for your advice.

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Trixie,

I've been a nurse for ten years and have dealt with this kind of toxic environment several times. I'm sure I will again.

It's not you- it's the situation, and I would advise you to transfer or get out. I wasted far too much time trying to make situations work that were just impossible.

Best of luck to you.

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You remember that stupid question, "where do you want to be in 5 years"? Well I changed that to:

"what do I see myself doing?" (by this I mean tasks)

Am I doing bedside care, am I leading teams, am I setting at a desk in front of a computer, am I talking on the phone, running around the er, interacting with patients face to face, am I a paper pusher doing chart reviews etc and never see patients, am I teaching or am I dealing with the very sick or the semi well.

I saw myself teaching. So I went to med/surg and did my year, found the floor was too busy to teach in the amounts I wanted. So I moved to the unit thinking, less patients and more one on one care I could teach more....wrong.

So I asked myself the question above. I ended up doing disease mngt and triage nursing and love it.

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I left the hospital 12 years ago and never looked back.

The ENVIRONMENT is everything.

Private duty in the home is a wonderful environment for the patient and the nurse.

1) Nurse to patient ratio is always 1 to 1.

2) The families are generally supportive of nurses and very helpful.

3) If an emergency does arise, there aren't alot of idiots around to get in your way.

4) Doing an 8 or 12 hour shift in a person's home is NEVER as physically exhausting as what you are doing now. Sometimes, you may be asked to work overtime or even a double-shift. It is never very difficult to stay and work an extra shift- you already know the patient, have most of the work done.

5) Start slow. If you choose to work for an agency, work part-time, perhaps with two agencies. Get oriented to a couple of cases and fill in as you can. On most cases there is some turnover and extra hours on your preferred days are usually not too far in the future. Don't be afraid of ventilator patient's in the home. Get on a case that is already staffed with an experienced nurse and between the patient's family and the other nurses you will learn everything about home vents within a few weeks. The vents used in home care are very low maintenence

6) Taking patients privately requires some paperwork and seeing an attorney and accountant to get yourself set up as a sole proprietor, but is usually worth the effort in the long run.

A couple of good sources to make the transition are:

James Huffmann R.N., Dare to Be Free (check the local library for this book, check out his website)

National Association of Independent Nurses.com. The annual membership is around $85.00 and the member forum is realy helpful with questions you will have along the way.

I hope this helps.

Edward, IL

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