Burned Out: any suggestions welcome

annmariern · Aug 3, 2006

I hear you. Been a nurse since I was 18, about to turn 40. I love nursing, and I am pretty damn good at it. Its the crap that gets to me. Everything lands at my feet. Mostly I have noticed the absolute lack of respect from just about everyone. From CNA's, one who when I asked why she wouldn't answer a call light in the middle of shift change, someone who I have gone out of my way to help due to her age and probs, sticks her hand in my face and tells me "to get outta of my face", to docs, who think I am a personal referee, patients, families, I could go on and on. I just give up. Mangement are all about numbers. Not even worth complaining. Am in the same boat, don't know what to do anymore. Isn't it sad, that the people who really care, who really want to do a great job can't? A scary prospect for the future. I saw an add on TV today for a nursing course...MONEY was the highlight. Sad.

Guest717236 · Aug 3, 2006

Congratulations to you both for your dedicated service to our profession.

Take care and nuture yourself. The medical system has drastically

changed since many of us fell in love with nursing.

Take a look at your personal priorities. Evaluate your needs.

Still wonderful opportunities available, but you need to really search them

out.

At 50 yrs old, after over 20 years in nursing I left . When my parents

were hospitalized, I was very heartbroken with the non existant care.

I left nursing to help them through the new "money first,patient sometime

later system". The system has failed patients and nurses and all

caregivers from my point of view. Individually, each day I saw hard

working staff attempting to meet the needs of their patients and

due to staff shortage falling short.

We each need to make our own decision about what is best.

The profession really needs to look at the loss of experienced

RNs/LPNs in regard to your statement-----------Isn't it really sad

that the people who want to do a good job can't?

For me the answer was yes I can---------

I can take care of my family in honor of all the

sacrifices they have endured to help me through

nursing school , shift schedules, missed holidays ,

overtime........

There are other ways for me make a living.....

God Bless You

bladensburg,OHrn · Aug 3, 2006

i hear your frustrations loud and clear, and have felt every one of them myself for years. and for a long while, i thought exactly the same...should i continue on, could i continue on? i got sick and tired of hearing that we should stop complaining, and offer solutions to the problems instead. why should i be the one to fix things? isn't that what they get paid the big bucks for? then one day i decided that i would be damned if they were going to run me out of a job that i truly loved, and worked at for 15 years. i thought of the retirement, vacation, seniority, etc. that i had built up, and i gave it a try. since the "suits" really hadn't a clue about floor nursing, who better to solve these problems than those closest to impact? i started presenting solutions to our problems, i attended meetings with administration, and making my presence and the needs of my nursing unit known. and changes started to happen. i found that when we started presenting solutions, rather than just complaining without working toward an understanding, in a professional manner, then we and our "problems" were respected, and well-received more. i also joined the committees that made important decisions regarding pt. care, staff development and recruiting and retention. i didn't at any point become "one of them", but still maintain the same concerns and voice that i had prior to acting on implementing a change. the only change that i made was in how i approached the process to make changes. i went to "them" as a professional (something they had to respect), and yes, sometimes i did/do have to understand their budgets, and other factors that i wouldn't have known about before; but it just makes it more clear to me by doing this, how to make a more acceptable and workable change really happen. and, besides the "voice" i now feel i have, my work in these committees and such have provided me with a new "charge", enthusiasm for my work. it's a great cure for the stagnation blues. and, it's built many working relationships with co-workers, superiors, dr.'s; something that may come in handy when and if i ever decide to give up floor nursing. so, my advice in a nutshell....don't sit back and sit idly by complaining, if you truly like your job - do something about it ! :monkeydance:

DDRN4me · Aug 3, 2006

Momdebo;

I hear you loud and clear...I have been a nurse for 25 yrs (started as anLPN at 20) now RN, almost BSN...and have, a few times , decided that the "Extraneous BS " that goes along with nursing makes me angry and frustrated...but then I refuse to give up what i have worked soooo hard to attain. it is only BS. take a deep breath, a mini vacation, and then look at your place of employment. Can you help ,make improvements? If not, then there is something else out there for you! go to the careers website here, to monster.com, to nursing magazines, and see what strikes you . there are sooo many opportunities out there for us, some are just harder to find than others!!! good luck!! Mary

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Aug 3, 2006

Congratulations to you both for your dedicated service to our profession.
Take care and nuture yourself. The medical system has drastically
changed since many of us fell in love with nursing.
Take a look at your personal priorities. Evaluate your needs.
Still wonderful opportunities available, but you need to really search them
out.
At 50 yrs old, after over 20 years in nursing I left . When my parents
were hospitalized, I was very heartbroken with the non existant care.
I left nursing to help them through the new "money first,patient sometime
later system". The system has failed patients and nurses and all
caregivers from my point of view. Individually, each day I saw hard
working staff attempting to meet the needs of their patients and
due to staff shortage falling short.
We each need to make our own decision about what is best.
The profession really needs to look at the loss of experienced
RNs/LPNs in regard to your statement-----------Isn't it really sad
that the people who want to do a good job can't?

For me the answer was yes I can---------

I can take care of my family in honor of all the
sacrifices they have endured to help me through
nursing school , shift schedules, missed holidays ,
overtime........

There are other ways for me make a living.....
God Bless You

RIGHT ON! :yeahthat: I'm starting a new job on Monday in Workman's Comp Case Management, and I honestly think this is my last shot at nursing after 36 years before hanging it up, too. I know I am burned out also, for it has become more and more difficult for me to put up with the crap which is being dished out to us. Like you say, it isn't about patient care anymore. It's all about the Almighty Dollar, which has left us and our patients out in the cold. When I started working as an aide in 1970 at the age of 18, it was ALL ABOUT patient care. Not anymore. It's just a shame.

Good luck to all who are contemplating leaving our profession.

royr · Aug 3, 2006

Hey gang! Have been in nursing for 10 years, feel like I've done it all, I am at a point where I don't really know where I want to be in nursing, have been in cardio-pulmonary for the last several, went from a tiny 5 bed ICU where I was the only nurse on 6p-6a shift (and also responsible for up to 15 telemetry units out on the floor) went to a larger hospital, scenery was different but the mentality and atmosphere were the same. I did apply to several job postings for doctor's office, cardiac rehab, case management over the last year, in all those applications I managed to get one interview. I have spent the last month picking blueberries (and loving every minute of it I might add), would still like to practice however, I guess I'm looking for the Hospital of Eutopia! Anyone out there feel like this and if so, what are you doing?

After a rest to re establish your own health and peace of mind you may want to shift into a teaching role. There is a huge shortage of RN's in the college education system and many good schools are seeking experienced nurses to teach both lecture classes and clinicals. I as a student I know many of us would welcome a teacher with a fresh perspective and real world experience to share. Please consider comming in from the trenches and teaching us what it takes to do the job in the real world using our hearts as well as our over filled NCLEX prepared brains.