Burned out and feeling trapped

[USNRN309]

I am a Navy nurse currently working in an undesirable department. For the past year, I have put in multiple requests to move to a preferred workspace. However, the "needs of the Navy" currently prevent any such workspace change. Over the past months, I have begun to experience many of the signs of nursing burnout. With no hope to change my workspace, management, or employer, does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? I love nursing, but if things don't improve, I am seriously considering moving the to civilian, non-nursing world. Has anyone experienced the same things? Right now, my only respites are deployments to Iraq.

[mwbeah]

I am a Navy nurse currently working in an undesirable department. For the past year, I have put in multiple requests to move to a preferred workspace. However, the "needs of the Navy" currently prevent any such workspace change. Over the past months, I have begun to experience many of the signs of nursing burnout. With no hope to change my workspace, management, or employer, does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? I love nursing, but if things don't improve, I am seriously considering moving the to civilian, non-nursing world. Has anyone experienced the same things? Right now, my only respites are deployments to Iraq.

I gotta say I am sorry your in that situation. The only thing I can add is that with the Army, if your motivated enough, you can "reinvent" yourself every 2-3 years. You can come in, work for a bit, apply for a school - graduate and work for a bit - and apply for more schooling. You do deploy but you can work around that depending on what you want out of nursing. I know that if love the military but the Navy is treating you poorly, branch transfers can be done (to the Army or Air Force).

Hope it gets better,

Mike