I see burnt out nurses walking amongst the living

[brad30]

I am a 30/M, been working 1.5 yrs as an RN. Worked tele for a year and I have been in ICU for 6 months. I am pretty happy where I am at and will stay for a couple years to get that indispensible critical care experience.

I thought that I would go into critical care and find my calling. I like it, but I don't want to be doing it when I am 40. I see burnt out nurses. I think it is related to the amount of mental and physical stress. I am also rethinking the 3-day workweek and working nights, weekends, holidays. I will get married this year and starting a family in a couple years. I think this lifestyle would be tough with kids. I am also seeing that I will need to make more money.

I am looking at my options. I may take the NP route, possibly PMHNP. Critical Care and Trauma interested me before but for long-term, I need something with the possibility of a better work-life balance.

How are you all doing with family, work-life balance and making enough $$?

[smf0903]

I may be in the minority here, but I love my floor job. I work a tele/med-surg floor (12s). I like working 2-3 days a week...well, nights actually LOL. I have a friend who works OR and is always trying to convince me to apply for an OR spot but honestly I don't want to work 5 days a week for the same amount of money. I'm technically part time but bring home the same amount as my husband who has worked 15 years at his job (I just had my 1-year anniversary at work). There are burned-out nurses everywhere, I suppose...doesn't necessarily mean you will end up as one. The beauty of nursing is you don't have to forever be "stuck" if you don't like your current situation because there are so many paths and twists you can take in your career. Where I'm at works great for our family. I hope if you need to make a change that you find what works for you and your situation! Good luck!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Just a notion: NP may not be the Holy Grail. Lots of them are forced to cram multiple appointments, like 8 minutes apart and tons of time afterhours charting for CMS/the government. It just depends on what you get into. But it can be and is often, much more time intensive than floor nursing is, and they don't always make tons of cash. I have a friend finding that out right now in family nurse practice. It's not exactly what she thought it would be.

For many, working 3-12s is plenty and allows the other 4 days to spend with their families doing what they want. It depends on how you budget your money and time. I work 4-10s and love it. Some work 7 days on and 7 days off. Others have Baylor/weekend agreements.

It also helps to have somewhat of a passion for what you do. Finding the specialty you like most will help.

Separating work and home life critical. Poor boundaries are a sure way to burnout.

I strongly suggest you Shadow some NPs in various areas before committing to a ton of debt going to school. Just my 0.02. Being a plain ole RN has worked out great for me, plenty of money AND time for my family. I just can't fathom placing my family in such debt at a time my own daughter is about to go to college----- for an expense like NP school. A plain old MSN is probably the route for me. And work will help with tuition.

Everyone must find their way and what works for them. I wish you well.