All burnt out and ready to roll!!!

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Hello everyone. After lurking for a really long time, I decided to jump on in. I've been a nurse for 8 years and I'm getting ready to leave on my first travel assignment. Well actually my second, but I don't count the first one because it was only an hour from home. I'm going to be 1100 miles from home this time and I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

I have become extremely disenchanted with my career and have seriously considered leaving the proffession. This is my last ditch effort to get some joy back. It took me eight years to be able to sign RN after my name. I went to school part-time, worked full-time and raised my daughter alone. I was so proud of myself when I received my degree and even prouder when I passed the NCLEX. Like every nurse on this board, I have worked beside the cream of the crop and the scum of the earth. I have met nurses that I aspired to be like and nurses that would never touch me if I were in the hospital. I've had co-workers who thought they knew it all and those who really did. Throughout the last eight years I have had great jobs that I never should have left and really crappy ones that I remained at for too long. Now....I'm just tired. Tired of feeling as if my patients have to be second and the $$ comes first. Tired of working long never ending days for less money than I'm worth. You have to be a nurse to understand a nurse. I am remarried now and it is hard to explain to my husband what a nurses day is like. I have attempted by telling him how multi-talented I am from learning how to be a nurse, secretary, counselor, teacher, and maid all in the same shift. He stares blankly.

So here I am getting ready to hit the road for 13 weeks and praying I have a good assignment. I hope that it will make me appreciate what I have a little more if I can't see it everyday. My feelings about my career have spilled over into my everyday life and I know I need to get over it.........fast. I think a change of scenery will be good.

Hope I wasn't a bummer. Just feeling a little sorry for myself tonight. I have enjoyed reading the posts and hope to contribute my own 2 cents every once in a while. Thanks for "listening".

***Grumpy***

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Welcome. Good luck to you. I feel your pain. :)

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I know what you mean about the blank stares. My husband doesn't get the multi Talented thing either, working your tail off and then having no one to understand you is one of the hardest parts of nursing!! I really hope the change in scenery helps you, and feel free to vent anytime. You are among friends and people who understand your tribulations!!!!:balloons: :)

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Hope your travel assignment is good to you. Let us know how it's going.

I think most nurses get that 'blank stare' response when we try to explain to those in other careers what we do .

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Hoping things work out well for you!

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I guess it's better than the look of disgust when I'm talking about body fluids and not even batting an eye.....I just can't understand why my husband doesn't want to discuss sputum.:chuckle

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Welcome. Good luck with the travel assignment.

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Grumpy-

You're a very gifted writer. Very eloquent summary of the nursing experience. Ever thought about pursuing writing?

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Grumpy, it sounds like you are as much burned out by husband's lack of (ability to) support as from nursing.

Have you always travelled? Maybe working around home for a while so you can have some family and hubby time might help soothe those weary limbs.

I can imagine myself traveling, because I like variety and because I seem to do better in working relationships which are more superficial than long lasting. But I also love being at home.

Consequently, for these and other reasons, I'm thinking about hospice, home health and community health.

Maybe a switch to an other area is in order. It would be a shame to see a gifted nurse leave the profession.

Please know that you are not alone, and that lots of us feel that way, have felt that way, and/or are just keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.

Grumpy, I have been traveling for 1 1/2 years now and it is rewarding to have a change of scenery, it will renew your love for nursing even if only for a little while. It will also help you appreciate what you have at home...friends, familiy, security. I am ready to stop traveling but I wouldn't have missed this experience for the world.

Wouldn't it be nice to take our loved ones to work with us for a shift and let them see what we do and how hard we work? I've threatened my husband with this many times!

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
Grumpy-

You're a very gifted writer. Very eloquent summary of the nursing experience. Ever thought about pursuing writing?

Heh... my thoughts exactly as I read this !

No.. you were NOT a bummer... and this is what we're here for ! :)

By the way..........

willkommen13.gif to Allnurses !!! :D So glad you decided to join us. Looking forward to hearing more from you... and wish you the very best in your travel experience ! Keep us posted !

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Thanks everyone. I was having a real pity party last night. It's so wonderful to have people that understand. I leave on Wednesday for Rhode Island. I'm a Dialysis Nurse and will be in a chronic unit for my assignment. I have tried to get out of Dialysis, but it keeps sucking me back in:p . I was a Hospice nurse for a while and I loved it, but I kept getting too close to the patients and families and decided I just couldn't keep grieving all of the time. I still have problems with that professional distance thing. Anyway, thanks for all of your replies. I'll be on the road for a couple of days, but I'm taking the computer with me and I'm glad I'll have yall to keep me company.:)

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