Are all nurses perpetually exhausted?

[yellow_crayon]

So, I've been a long time lurker and just recently decided to start an account so I could get an answer to this question. I'm seriously considering going to nursing school (I already have one degree) but I've noticed a trend on these forums, and in general, that's got me a little worried.

From what I've read, most nurses who work directly with patients seem to talk a lot about how utterly exhausted they are ALL THE TIME. It paints the picture of a very stressed out, caffeine drinking, health care worker with little time for sleep or a personal life. I'm sure that this is most likely an exaggeration...or is it? Forgive me for my ignorance. I'm fully aware that nurses work very hard and have A LOT of responsibility, but being outside of that world, I'm not sure exactly how tough it really is.

I'm very interested in medicine and the idea of direct patient contact, but not at the expense of my physical health or my sanity. As a nurse, would you consider yourself to be "pushed to the limit" in the way I described above, or have you found a balance? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I think the level of exhaustion and stress depends on the job, not the career. I work in a SNF and you bet I'm exhausted! But I work a hellish week of back to back 12's, on the upside when that week is done I have a lot of time off to recover and enjoy life so the trade off of one hell week followed by one don't even think about my job week is worth it for me.

[gzussu]

ALL jobs are exhausting.

Working people from all professions, whether they are nurses, cashiers, doctors, servers, physical therapists, construction workers/home improvement people, telemarketers, delivery people, postmen, developers, custodians, social workers, teachers, professors, MBAs, etc....All jobs have their own nightmares and headaches

We nurses are fortunate that the creators of this site offers us a place to discuss our issues and allows us to vent and give/receive support. We have to appreciate that. Many other professions don't have that sort of anonymous support, but they for sure have their gripes. Nursing does have a lot of crappy stuff to deal with.....but so does every single other profession out there. Don't let the stories here scare you. It's life :)

BTW...before considering nursing, we all should have know the sacrifices it entails. We work weekends. We work holidays. We could work nights. Those are the definite things we should have known about before going to nursing school. It's the other frustrations we were naive about. But at the same time.....all professions have their causes for frustration.

I don't regret going into nursing. Its a love/hate thing.

[starlane]

I think it depends where you work, someone once told me quote for quote that "nurses get jobs in the maternity unit when their ready to die"-meaning that it is slower paced ( I have never worked there though so I can't really vouch for that). I don't really think that all nurses are perpetually exhausted unless they do it to themselves, a lot of nurses i know are workaholics, most have two jobs-but if you take care of yourself, make time for yourself outside of work you will be fine :)

[SWM2009]

I was but it turned out I was very anemic. I am taking iron supplements now and feel so much better. I have also become better at leaving work issues at work and not bringing them home with me. I still get tired after a shift but it's no longer the soul sucking exhaustion I was dealing with before.

[MauraRN]

To answer your question: YES!!! But I was a home health cardiac nurse, working 80 hours weekly, getting paid for 40 hours. And I am 57 years old. Nursing is a tough gig

[No Stars In My Eyes]

To answer your question: YES!!! But I was a home health cardiac nurse, working 80 hours weekly, getting paid for 40 hours. And I am 57 years old. Nursing is a tough gig

(S'cuse me ma'am, your overtime is showing.)

I gotta ask......how? ....WHY?......

Regularly?

I mean, I've put in extra time when it was needed, but 80 hours? with 40 hours unpaid?​

[rnforforty]

You mean being permanently exhausted is NOT normal?

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

ALL jobs are exhausting.

Working people from all professions, whether they are nurses, cashiers, doctors, servers, physical therapists, construction workers/home improvement people, telemarketers, delivery people, postmen, developers, custodians, social workers, teachers, professors, MBAs, etc....All jobs have their own nightmares and headaches.

Eh, I get what you're getting at but this is my second career. My desk job was not exhausting. I sometimes long for the days when my biggest stress was getting some paperwork project completed rather than dealing with death and heartache(and running like mad while being scapegoated from all sides.) My two careers are worlds apart.

[~Shrek~]

Night shift is draining and exhausting. I am not going to sugarcoat it for you. Be warned: in the nursing and medical world working days is considered a luxury. If you are a new nurse you will most likely have to work nights and if you hate the toll it takes on your health people will not take it seriously because that is what you are supposed to do.

people often get stuck on night shift, too. It's not a year of night shift then you can get on with your life. If you want to switch specialties or hospitals then the only positions open are night positions. If you are the breadwinner of your family you come to depend on the extra few bucks an hour differential. In certain places, day shift just doesn't open for 5-10 years because your more senior coworkers all want days.

[CamillusRN, BSN]

I'm sure the rest of the nightwalkers on here will agree that night shift work = perpetual jet lag. Not always exhausted, but will certainly be down with a nap if the occasion presents itself. Still have enough energy for family duties, social events, and the occasional CE conference, but I won't be running a marathon anytime soon!