Burn out

[Abakke92]

So I have only been a nurse for 3 years in a very busy level 1 trauma center. I LOVE my job, but am sick of trying to make changes and process improvements with very little support from management and higher acuity patients and higher ratios and fewer staff. Is it too soon to work in more of an admin role? I feel like a wimp looking at some of the nurses that have been at the bedside for 25 years, but also feel like nursing has changed a lot and patients are complete jerks now a days. Looking for affirmation of my applying to a cubicle position or a swift kick in the head to stay.

[Cola89]

Could you try a smaller facility - still work er though?

I recently went from small er to home health and although I wasn't totally confident in my er abilities

I really think I was a better fit for er.

You might really regret a cubicle position if you're like me, you like er partly because you want to get in, fix what's the main problem, then get out. You probably don't like burocracy and paperwork

and you'd probably have to deal with a lot of both at an office job (!)

and I know, a lot of pts are 'jerks' or very entitled. But you get to move them along faster when working in the ed. I feel sorry for step down nurses.

[nightbrightener]

For me it was an easy decision. Do i stay on the floor and smile and nod at new policy directives, then ignore as much as possible while giving the best care i can, and check a few boxes in EPIC... OR do i go to an office and try and sell chicken SH** as chicken salad to my floor nurses knowing my job is contingent on getting them to do this months stupid middle management idea, falls blankets, no oxygen in the hallway, PEEP round documentation rather than going in the room and just doing their job etc. Most of the ideas have some basis in fact, just often not in the reality of working in a packed ED. I will always try to support my managers in terms of my attitude and the care I provide, but refuse to shovel that sh** downhill in terms of policy buy in. Just a thought. now if the issue is that you are sick of the bedside... new floor, advanced practice or office are all options, they just have their own hassles.

[Munch]

You might just need a change of scenery. My first job was at a pretty small community hospital in the suburbs of NYC. I couldn't stand it. I felt like almost everyone/everything was working against me be it the patients, management, my fellow nurses, support staff..it was dreadful. The way things were done was just fractured and I felt like management really played favorites. For example they never had enough coverage so I was expected to punch out for my meal break and keep working anyway. Other nurses on the floor in the same position as me didn't have to do that..they were able to get away and sit down to eat..the charge nurse covered their meals..she refused to do it for me and a few others though. If NY state did an audit they would have thrown a fit..I worked human resources(not in healthcare though..this was before I even went to nursing school) many years ago and I know all about state labor laws. Not to mention its not like no one took a meal break...the favorites did. I also mentioned this in another thread but a lot of my co-workers were very cliquey(is that a word? Lol)...they always stuck together and went out of their way to exclude others.

Everything about my first job really left a lot to be desired even the patients. Being a community hospital in a well to do long island town the patients were very snobby(not all of them but a good percentage) they always had an entourage with them(hospital rule was only 2 at a time at the bedside) and of course when I went to enforce the hospital policy half the time one of the members of the patients posse would go over my head after I told them two at a time and always the person they asked underminded me right in front of them and told them they could all stay. I cant tell you how many times I've gotten complaints from the roommates and their visitors of those patients and their loud posse of visitors. I actually thought being a nurse was a mistake and wanted to go find another career all together.

Luckily I got another job in the city which I loved. My co-workers were great, the patients were great(genuinely very sick people who were always gracious and full of gratitude for the care that I provided) they even had a nurse float so I could actually get off my feet for a moment and eat something. I actually left that job though for my current because I had a lot of health problems and actually took over a year off...I just never went back. My friend actually got me my current position which happened to have better pay and I actually love it too. Inner city 1000 plus bed tertiary hospital. Its completely the opposite of my first job in that small, suburban community hospital. I like the hustle and bustle of city life..you mention you are at a busy trauma center..maybe a smaller community hospital would be the right fit for you or home health care. A lot of former co-workers of mine left to work home health care or for agency nursing and they have nothing but great things to say. For me it was a matter of changing the scenery...but I do know this profession isn't a once size fits all profession. What works for me might not for another.