by babiesRmylife

Ever since I graduated I started in NICU level 3 (little over 2yrs now). I'm recently experiencing some type of 'burn out.' I honestly love what I do. I love my babies & MOST of the families that have to make this unwelcomed travel through the NICU.

Recently though, I have been very unhappy. I can't really pinpoint what it is. I would imagine that part of my partial unhappiness with my personal life has slowly been leaking into my professional. I feel though as if my career/hospital is not keeping me challenged & I'm coming to work everyday to take care of the same 'routine' unchallenging infants. There's no excitment like there once was. I used to look forward to going to work everyday. Also, our hospital offers very minimal CEU's for the NICU, which is irritating considering we're the largest unit in the hospital next to a regular adult floor.

I'm considering taking a travel position in another state, but this will be at a smaller hospital with a considerably smaller NICU. I don't know if maybe the change of everything around me will bring with it a renual or sorts, or if it'll completely end up back firing to be 3 months of h*ll.

I guess I just wanted to vent & know if any others have experienced this burn out of sorts & if so what did you do to 'refuel' yourself to enjoy the job you once loved so dearly?

Re: Burn out?

When I got to that point, I took a per diem position in PICU and the ED. Gave me enough agita to squash what little dissatisfaction I had with NICU. I also added a lot of useful knowledge by broadening my practice a little bit.

Maybe you can speak to your charge nurse about getting some more challenging assignments?