Nurses General Nursing
Published Apr 1, 2008
I have observed nursing burnout in several of the hospitals I have been in. What do you feel in the number one cause of nurse burn out and what suggestions do you have for a new nurse to avoid this situation?
Rhone
109 Posts
7. The female domination of the nursing profession
This caught my attention; can you expand on it (or link to a post where you've already expanded on it)? As a male trying to switch careers into nursing, I'm curious about how the female domination of the profession contributes to your burnout.
MaryAnn_RN
478 Posts
Is it because society expects nurses to conform to female gender stereotypes? We don't conform and conflict ensues?
ArwenEvenstar
308 Posts
I'm not the person who posted this, but I just had to comment. My husband and I are both RN's. I feel bad for my husband sometimes having to work in a female dominated profession! Of course, these are general statements that I am making, but men and women tend to deal with things differently. Men are more problem solvers, ie: "There is a problem. What can we do to solve it? Lets do it!" While women tend to like to just complain, chit-chat, gossip, and gab about the problem. My husband has told the female nurses he works with more than once to shut-up and stop complaining and instead DO something to SOLVE the problem! (By the way, these nurses have gotten used to my husband. And interestingly, they rarely complain in his presence anymore! haha!) Another example, if my husband has a "problem" with some nurse, he does not hesitate to directly deal with it. He will go to the nurse personally, share his concern, and clear up the issue with her. It seems that women are less likely to do this... instead they will complain about the other nurse to other staff members, and be CATTY about it. Female nurses can be very catty.
Okay, I am a female posting this, but I hope I am not offending other females. My statements are general, and I am not saying every female is like this.
But to get back to the OP issue, I think that with the generally stressful atmosphere of nursing that can lead to burn-out, that when you add on the fact that nurses are mostly females who tend to complain instead of problem solve, be so catty, etc - well, this only contributes to the stress!!
TheCommuter, BSN, RN
102 Articles; 27,612 Posts
if my husband has a "problem" with some nurse, he does not hesitate to directly deal with it. He will go to the nurse personally, share his concern, and clear up the issue with her. It seems that women are less likely to do this... instead they will complain about the other nurse to other staff members, and be CATTY about it.
The Bell Jar
190 Posts
Being understaffed/ pt ratio-acuity too high. Long hours. Non supportive management who have never worked the floor. Too much value placed on profit. To name a few.
Exactly.Too many pts per nurse,short staffing,poor management,lack of support etc etc
pagandeva2000, LPN
7,984 Posts
(i refuse to use that finger-wagging icon)leslie
leslie
I'll use it...:nono::nono: (my finger got stuck)
BrokenRNheart
367 Posts
DITTO.
Add non-supportive management that FORGOT what it was like to work the floor or are too worried about their jobs to care about their nurses.
imanedrn
547 Posts
I also think working in the same environment long term contributes to burn out. I switch departments about every 5-8 years and in almost 30 years I think this has prevented major burnout. It keeps me curious and learning something new and working with different people. (also, I agree with loracatus....a sense of humor helps a LOT!)
This is what I plan to do (though probably less than 5-8 years) because I KNOW I get bored easily. It's actually part of what drew me to nursing in the first place. If I KNOW I'm getting burned out (and therefore hating my job, dislike myself, not caring enough for my pts, etc.), why on earth would I stay there?? I know some people feel limited (or are -- I won't dare to try put myself in some else's shoes), but I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where moving around won't be a problem.
I want my nice broad med/surg background, but I KNOW I will grow weary of it and need to move on. Also, the pt ratio is yucky :trout:
I think so many females makes for a very catty environment at times. I don't think it directly contributes to burnout, per se, but it can certainly wear on other females emotionally -- knowing that you don't have the support of a certain nurse, and possibly other nurses who are her friends, etc.
woknblues
447 Posts
causes of burnout are both universal (everyone has a time limit of "x" hours per week) and specific (are you the bored easily type? the lone wolf constantly put into groups or the social butterfly often left alone, etc)
I burned out of my last profession, and I think that there are no particular rules for nursing as compared to any other profession. When I started at the position I faced the following:
1. Hours worked per week excessive (10 hours was MINIMUM, end of month and quarterlies were always a few 16s.......... yes, salaried....)
2. No performance reviews given / low balling wage or compensation (until the day I left, of course!!)
3. Office politics / "the bad apple" affecting morale of whole team
4. Abuse tolerated by the high profile positions (read "salespeople" in my case or in the health industry, Dr's)
5. Abuse by customers or clientèle tolerated
During my 2 years stint in this particular office, (I was an incoming middle manager in the same company for 6 years prior) I was able to nearly eliminate most of #3 (fired the offending few after a lot of work) and #4 (directly addressing how important full cooperation was with the "Stars" and how much it would effect their bottom line) , and curtail #5 to a manageable level. (This WAS SoFlo after all, and I don't believe in miracles....)
The corporate culture of the place was a bad mix of good old boys, and plain old liars. Promises were not kept, expectations would raise exponentially with each new "job title", and recognition was absent at my level. (meaning I gave it to my subordinates as often as I could, but never received it from my superiors) Therefore, #1 and #2 remaining full tilt allowed me in only 2 years to completely hate the job, the industry, and entire state of Florida.
and yes, I am feeling much better now, thanks!!
Kthale81
32 Posts
I am burned out now. Due to health reasons, I haven't worked in a month. During this past month, I have realized that I don't want to nurse anymore or need a break from nursing. I may not even be able to work as a nurse for a while due to health anyway.
I think the burn-out is from: lack of staff, lack of support/help, working the same schedule over-and-over again, demanding patients and family members, sorry to say this - just ignorance in general, all the piles of forms/papers, it is just too much.
Now I was happy working at one facility - but that was a travel assignment in AZ - and I so very much miss that part of my life.
nmred
29 Posts
I second what "The Commuter" had to say. Along with the fact I work in the surgical department. Not only do I work my 40 hours a week but I get to take call about twice a week. That can average around 20 - 30 hours extra. I wonder why on my days off all I do is sleep! And to add insult to injury this lousy government takes all my OT as taxes.
That's extra special.