Burnt out

calivianya, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

Right there with you! Going to school and working is exhausting - I'm doing it right now, too.

I have actually found the opposite to be true with my energy towards work, though - going to school is energizing me, and it's energizing me in all directions. I don't resent being at work anymore. I felt so stagnant and like my life was going nowhere, and now I am going somewhere again - I can put up with working in the meantime. There's usually a few minutes here and there that work isn't total chaos and I get some schoolwork done, which really helps because I'm so tired at home that I get nothing done unless I'm at work.

It's just so hard to work my hours in. The worst has been when I worked a Sunday night, 7p-7a, had class on Monday from 10-11 and lab from 1-4. There are some days I go almost 24 hours without sleeping because of working and going to class. It's just so hard on my body. I'll be doing that again in a couple of weeks because Easter is my holiday this year, so there's no getting that Sunday off and missing lab would ruin my grades. :dead: I have been almost living off of energy drinks (at least they sell a 24 pack of Red Bull at Costco for $36!) and coffee and I just feel fatigued all the time.

And then, of course, the overtime is gone because fitting in my 36 hours is hard enough. This just seems like a really awful way to live. I'm glad it's only temporary.

RNtoACGNP · Mar 2, 2016

I totally understand where your coming from! I will occasionally bring notes to study at work but even if I do get a down time I cannot shift my focus and I never end up actually studying. What program are you in? I'm thinking we are feeling opposite about school being energizing because I have been in school almost straight through for 8 years, I am ready to be done!!

Dranger · Mar 2, 2016

I totally understand where your coming from! I will occasionally bring notes to study at work but even if I do get a down time I cannot shift my focus and I never end up actually studying. What program are you in? I'm thinking we are feeling opposite about school being energizing because I have been in school almost straight through for 8 years, I am ready to be done!!

I saved a ton and just decided to stop working full-time when I went to school. That helped a lot. I do per diem now and even though I work 1-2 shifts a week (I don't have to) it feels a lot better knowing its my choice.

RNtoACGNP · Mar 2, 2016

I saved a ton and just decided to stop working full-time when I went to school. That helped a lot. I do per diem now and even though I work 1-2 shifts a week (I don't have to) it feels a lot better knowing its my choice.

I am in the same position as you. I did not save a ton but I did move back home. I work per diem 1-2 days a week as well and it is amazing knowing it's by choice which is why I haven't worked "full time" since I was a new grad. I wish I didn't dread work so much. I used to love it.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

I totally understand where your coming from! I will occasionally bring notes to study at work but even if I do get a down time I cannot shift my focus and I never end up actually studying. What program are you in? I'm thinking we are feeling opposite about school being energizing because I have been in school almost straight through for 8 years, I am ready to be done!!

I am a bio major. I am taking all junior level courses at this point, and they are very challenging. None of my teachers do multiple choice for anything. The cell bio class in particular feels like nursing school all over again with the sheer volume of material the teacher expects us to learn. Actually, I don't think I studied this hard in nursing school.

I think it's because you've been in school for eight years straight that it's not energizing. I didn't think it was energizing when I was in nursing school. I graduated with my BSN in May 2013 and until this semester, I hadn't taken any classes since. I am deeply appreciative of everything revolving around school now - that it's going to get me out of nursing, that it's intellectually stimulating, that it's very black and white (a mouse fibroblast in culture can't lie to you about its alcohol consumption or complain that it took you too long to give it pain medicine, for example), and that I have a job that allows me to pay my bills and pay tuition, too, so there will be no student loans. Yet.

RNtoACGNP · Mar 2, 2016

I am a bio major. I am taking all junior level courses at this point, and they are very challenging. None of my teachers do multiple choice for anything. The cell bio class in particular feels like nursing school all over again with the sheer volume of material the teacher expects us to learn. Actually, I don't think I studied this hard in nursing school.
I think it's because you've been in school for eight years straight that it's not energizing. I didn't think it was energizing when I was in nursing school. I graduated with my BSN in May 2013 and until this semester, I hadn't taken any classes since. I am deeply appreciative of everything revolving around school now - that it's going to get me out of nursing, that it's intellectually stimulating, that it's very black and white (a mouse fibroblast in culture can't lie to you about its alcohol consumption or complain that it took you too long to give it pain medicine, for example), and that I have a job that allows me to pay my bills and pay tuition, too, so there will be no student loans. Yet.

That's amazing! Good for you, it is great to be passionate about your future. I am most definitely passionate about my future deep down, I'm just in a bad rut right now.

Hollybobs · Mar 2, 2016

I am a bio major. I am taking all junior level courses at this point, and they are very challenging. None of my teachers do multiple choice for anything. The cell bio class in particular feels like nursing school all over again with the sheer volume of material the teacher expects us to learn. Actually, I don't think I studied this hard in nursing school.
I think it's because you've been in school for eight years straight that it's not energizing. I didn't think it was energizing when I was in nursing school. I graduated with my BSN in May 2013 and until this semester, I hadn't taken any classes since. I am deeply appreciative of everything revolving around school now - that it's going to get me out of nursing, that it's intellectually stimulating, that it's very black and white (a mouse fibroblast in culture can't lie to you about its alcohol consumption or complain that it took you too long to give it pain medicine, for example), and that I have a job that allows me to pay my bills and pay tuition, too, so there will be no student loans. Yet.

That sounds fantastic Calivianya, well done and keep going!

To the OP, yes I have definitely felt like you describe. When it has been exhausting and draining for too long and then you go beyond that.

Is there an option to just work the very minimum you can? Once a week? Maybe just for a few months while you get your mojo back? Or is that financially impossible?

I think it's possible to recover from feeling like this, I hope you do. I think feeling stretched between school and work isn't helping. It sounds like it might require a bit more than this but have you tried all the classic self-care stuff and maybe a proper holiday? Even if you can't travel, a couple weeks completely free from thinking about anything nursing related might help a little.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

I am in the same position as you. I did not save a ton but I did move back home. I work per diem 1-2 days a week as well and it is amazing knowing it's by choice which is why I haven't worked "full time" since I was a new grad. I wish I didn't dread work so much. I used to love it.

Maybe you resent work because you do not have a healthy balance between school, work and life and deep down you would rather have some me time instead of work. Do you exercise regularly or have some sort of healthy break to take care of yourself?

martymoose, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

I think it's either you are exhausted(rightfully so) or you are one of those people who thrives on adrenaline. Since you cut your hours , you "have more time" , albeit time you need.

My friend is like this. She likes her money, and isn't too happy when her hours get cut. She 's in a job that is very adrenaline producing. She's worked in my job( step down) and is bored to death and hates it.I think the adrenaline rush gives her energy and life.

Congrats on working on your degree tho, at least you wont have to do floor nursing ever again.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2016

I had 25 + years at the bedside. I can't even drive past a hospital without getting the heebie jeebies.

Why not work your minimum 3 days a month? Or think outside the box a little and get out of the hospital all together?

RNtoACGNP · Mar 2, 2016

That sounds fantastic Calivianya, well done and keep going!
To the OP, yes I have definitely felt like you describe. When it has been exhausting and draining for too long and then you go beyond that.
Is there an option to just work the very minimum you can? Once a week? Maybe just for a few months while you get your mojo back? Or is that financially impossible?
I think it's possible to recover from feeling like this, I hope you do. I think feeling stretched between school and work isn't helping. It sounds like it might require a bit more than this but have you tried all the classic self-care stuff and maybe a proper holiday? Even if you can't travel, a couple weeks completely free from thinking about anything nursing related might help a little.

That is a good idea. I actually just went to Arizona for a week but I just kind of went last minute to get some sunshine , I had two midterms when I got back that I had to study for every single day so it wasn't really a "vacation". I think I will just work once a week, maybe the same day every week so it becomes routine and I hopefully won't dread it. Thank you!!