has anyone ever expirenced burn out on a job?

thekid · Jun 28, 2010

I burned out about six months after graduating and working as an RN. I ended up starting a business and truthfully it's been the only work I've ever enjoyed. Burnout seems almost inevitable in nursing because of the physical and emotional demands placed on us. I returned to nursing after ten years and have to convince myself daily that it was the right choice. I'm sorry about your situation

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2010

Perhaps a non-bedside position is in your future?

fungez · Jun 28, 2010

I work PRN. My biggest source of working stress was being forced to work their days, having to put in for a day off a month in advance, or in the case of the holiday schedule, FOUR months in advance. And if you can get a major holiday off, forget about going anywhere because as night follows day you're going to work the day after or before the holiday.

So I work PRN. Yeah, I have to pay for my own health insurance, but it's worth it. I will never miss another important event because "I have to work."

Try to identify your major stressers. If it's the work itself, go work at a doc's office. Yes, you'll take a paycut but money isn't everything. Or I did Rehab for awhile. Yeah, it's very hard on your back since the patients need help with everything but they aren't that sick and it's a happy place since they're getting better. I wish you all the best.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jun 28, 2010

yesssss !! yesssss !! you are soooo right jo !! i am looking for a new area and soo happy i hopefully found a job that suits me better at this time !!i applied for a job teaching children with learning disabilties and other health problems !! i just got a call back from the manager of the unit... interview time set up .... i just need a change ... i love nursing and i love my patients .. so i will get to do what i love... i am very happy and hope will be less stressed... you know i have heard ICU nurses talk about burn out and how they have to change jobs to decrease that stress and i never understood because i could handle it .. but now i do.. and it's okay.. i am walking a mile in their shoes... there's nothing wrong with being burned out in a job .. it's realizing it.. and i do... this med/surg job i have been almost 6 years , my last med/surg job lasted 9 years at the same hospital and before that my last job was almost 7 years i think... i don't change jobs much .. but getting so i need a change once in awhile... i'm doing much better.. i will be fine !! thank you all so much for your support a virtual hug to all of you... !!

anonymurse · Jun 28, 2010

Yeah. Everyone where I work is burned out. We just keep encouraging each other to keep plugging away anyhow. People will pretty much do anything if they know they're treasured, so we treasure each other.

frann · Jun 28, 2010

I'm in your same boat now.

i work down in IR-interventional radiology-its horrible, so overworked, we have callouts daily, so we're always working short.

I've just had it. I've decided to go back to school. finishing my BSN/or working on masters, not really totally sure what I'm going to do, but i'll figure it out at school. I'm giving myself 5 yrs and I'm not going to be where I am now.

I've been a nurse 18 yrs now-all in hospital

Nursemom64 · Jun 30, 2010

I have only been a nurse for 4 years, but working med/surg can take it's toll...and fast! Went from med/surg to in-patient hospice (which was wonderful but they ended up going out of business), then went to another hospital (med/surg) but that didn't work out so now I'm back to looking for another hospice job but this time hoping for home hospice. I really enjoyed the pace of hospice rather than med/surg...it's more "my thing" I knew I was burning out on med/surg when I would dread going to work, hoping that staffing would call me to see if I wanted to take the night off because they were overstaffed.