Burned out!!!!!!!!

GomerPyle · Jan 23, 2009

wow! i've only been a rn for 8 mos. now and i'm already so stressed:hdvwl: that i'm seriously considering going back to turning wrenches on aircraft again. all the various reasons (press gainey, short staffed, nurse popularity contests, rude and unreasonable patients and families, frequent flyer etoh patients on round the clock dilaudid, non-compliant diabetics, "yes man" nurse managers, lack of equipment, broken equipment, hours of charting and paperwork, and many more) made in these previous posts regarding burnout are spot on in my limited experience. looks like i have some serious soul searching to do. and, btw, don't judge me as to getting into nursing for all the wrong reasons :nono: we all have our reaons! they are our reasons!

rnmi2004 · Jan 23, 2009

I find myself wondering at times why I went into this profession. Does anyone else get annoyed with healthcare today?

Oh Mah Dawg, ah-men to that. I love my patients most of the time but I sure do wonder what kind of crazy pills I was taking when I though this was the career for me.

ksims2008 · Jan 23, 2009

Don't even mention it. I've been wondering that myself and I have been a nurse for only 2 years. Burnout big time not only w/ all that we've to do plus putting up with doctors' bad manners and attitudes, crazy family members, crazier patients, overload of patients... it feels like hell. No wonder there is a "forever" shortage of nurses. I work in the ICU and recently left the hospital I have been working for since graduation to work agency so I can make a better money in spite of having to pay for my own health insurance... all because the low pay and the workload. They recently added 6 beds to a 16 bed ICU and are putting IMU pts there. Obviously, they are giving ICU and IMU pts to the nurses...sometimes 4 pts at once even though one pt is crashing... It's a total patient care floor on top of everything, meaning no techs or PCAs to help. We do everything. I got to the point where I'm simply tired of bathing diarrhea pts 8 times a shift, sometimes having 2 pts with same problems, so it's a never ending bathing and cleaning. And if you complain about the assigment or ask to change it, you're being picky... suck it up and do it. Don't understand me wrong, I don't mind doing it. I just mind doing it a lot. It's physically draining.

So, yes, I have been wondering what the heck I was thinking when I decided to be a nurse. And it's sad because at the same time I love being a nurse. I'm just burnout with all the crap that is going on everywhere. :crying2: :banghead:

nickos · Jan 23, 2009

I'm not even in the program yet and I'm scared

FLmomof5 · Jan 23, 2009

Wisedonkey,

I am not insulted by your post. I didn't imply insult with the "grass is always greener" statement. It is true for most of life regardless of subject.

My mother was a nurse for 35 years. My sis, for the past 25. My brother, for 4. I have heard all their complaints and their stories. I am currently in IT. IT is *always* considered a "liability" because we don't "make money" for the company. The MBAs cut our jobs first. I have been laid off repeatedly when the budget gets snug. Talk about not being valued for what you do!

Also, another area where I have learned that burn out feeling can occur....

All 5 of my children had Constitutional Short Stature.

My oldest had repeated medical problems as an infant.

Both of my boys were ADD. [Overjoyed with all those teachers who refused to honor IEPs and of course, there were those wonderful dealings with the folks down at Juvenile Court!]

My life is peaceful now. However, my nurse sister saw all that I had to live through and asked me once how come I had not committed suicide yet! I guess through my trials and tribulations, I have learned a peaceful acceptance that has worked for me. I can only pray that it continues to work for me once I graduate.

I do appreaciate your comments though!

ksims2008 · Jan 23, 2009

Think well before you put money, time and effort into it. I don't want to sound negative and discourage you from going further into nursing. I just know that nursing schools show the idealistic side of nursing, how it should be but the reality out there is very different. Also, some people go into nursing for the job security and pay. You won't get rich in nursing and after going through hell, those $30 bucks/hour (if you're lucky to get that pay because I'm not) will sound like nothing if compared to what you have to go through to make that money. You'll wonder if McDonalds isn't the best option after all! LOL! The burnout will reach you faster than you can fill your bank account. So, if you really decide to go for it, make an informed decision for your own sake. Analize both sides, weigh the goods and bads, think over and over again, research more about it and see if it's something that you really want to do. Of course, one can say that if it does not work, you can always quit. But I tell you, after spending all that time studying and money paying for tuiton, books and extras... it's harder... I wish you the best and hope that you find your way.:)

mina123 · Jan 23, 2009

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. But you're absolutely right--at some point in time we nurses stopped being professionals and started to become personal valets.
We had a situation at the LTC facility where I worked where an extremely demanding patient (to the point that patient care for other people was suffering) was telling his family members how cruel and abusive we were to him. In actual fact, we were bending over backward to be nice to this man. One of his favorite tricks was to request things like coffee or extra pillows, then curse you out and throw the object at you when you brought it to him in a timely manner.
Unfortunately, the family had no more sense than to believe HIM and complained to our DON. So she called us all into her office separately to discuss the problem. When I talked to her, she said the wife was threatening to come in some night unannounced to see what was going on. My response? I thought that was a WONDERFUL idea--then she could see how kindly we treated this man. I asked the DON to encourage her to come in. The wife never came in. I think she preferred the drama of believing that her poor husband was being abused.
To make a long story short, resident and family wound up getting free private duty--paid for by the facility!
It's also very disturbing that "abuse" has come to mean anything that displeases a resident.
I hope to leave the profession soon. I'm going back to school to make that happen.

I think this is where the real problems lies people have come to know that if u act up/ make a scene/ yell at nurses and doctors you get much better care and therefore they are doing all this thus making our life and job miserable. So as nurses we should stop giving attention to negative patients and families and give more care and attention to patients who are nice to us. Its always sad in nursing we always remember the patients from hell first not the nice ones who always tries to help us and say thank you for all you do all day long!!!!!!!!

mina123 · Jan 23, 2009

I hear you....I am tired.....tired of going to work...
The other night I had 4 patients, one was an acute MI that had just come from the cath lab. One of my patients had gotten the day nurse so upset, she couldn't even give report. I went in there with a "sweet as could be attitude" and was met with a very mean person. He barked orders at me, the words please and thank you were not in his vocabulary. I continued to be nice as could be and nothing could change his mean, hatefulness. He yelled at me once because his call light had been on 45 seconds and no one had answered yet - I was busy with my MI patient and told him I was with another patient, I was here now and what could I do for him. He ordered me out of his room and told me not to come back as no one had ever spoken to him like that........
It is days like that I don't even want to go back and work another shift....how could three other patients love the care they are getting and the fourth who is getting the same care and attention be so hateful.......

This is exactly what happened to one of my night nurses yesterday the pt called the charge nurse and said that he did not even wanted that nurse to touch her and that hopes she never comes back ever again and should quit nursing; she was so sad while giving report to me and i told her you can never make each and every person happy all the time, you try your best to give the best care possible but if the person is unhappy within himself due to long sickness or another financial or social reasons you cannot help people like that. They are just going to be mean. Don't take things personally remember the other three patients appreciated you and thanked you for all your help so remember the good ones and let the miserable patients be miserable just my philosophy!!!

ToxicShock · Jan 23, 2009

Not a nurse yet, but...

I worked in retail for almost 10 years, and I hated every minute of it. I hated having to bend over backwards for customers who would whine about not getting 10% off because they were too thick to read the sign; they just read "10% off" and thought they were automatically entitled to it, and that it applied to any item in the vicinity of that sign. I didn't mind helping out customers who had legitimate complaints, but the ones that would cry over every little thing eventually over took the ones who were decent, and I have vowed that I would never work in retail again (as of 2007 - still going strong!).

Unfortunately, it seems as though there are a good amount of patients and/or patient's family members who react in similar ways. In retail, it's difficult to "stand up" to these types because companies want that business, and they will do almost anything to ensure that those customers come back. But should nurses be held to this same standard? From reading posts here, it almost seems like they are, which is really disappointing.

How can this change? What can be done? So many wonderful people on this site are leaving nursing because of these giant "children"; no one should have to leave a profession that they love because they are treated like dirt. Changes need to be made so nurses and patients can be happy. Is there a simple answer? No. Will it ever change? Hopefully - and soon.

ksims2008 · Jan 23, 2009

Not a nurse yet, but...
I worked in retail for almost 10 years, and I hated every minute of it. I hated having to bend over backwards for customers who would whine about not getting 10% off because they were too thick to read the sign; they just read "10% off" and thought they were automatically entitled to it, and that it applied to any item in the vicinity of that sign. I didn't mind helping out customers who had legitimate complaints, but the ones that would cry over every little thing eventually over took the ones who were decent, and I have vowed that I would never work in retail again (as of 2007 - still going strong!).
Unfortunately, it seems as though there are a good amount of patients and/or patient's family members who react in similar ways. In retail, it's difficult to "stand up" to these types because companies want that business, and they will do almost anything to ensure that those customers come back. But should nurses be held to this same standard? From reading posts here, it almost seems like they are, which is really disappointing.
How can this change? What can be done? So many wonderful people on this site are leaving nursing because of these giant "children"; no one should have to leave a profession that they love because they are treated like dirt. Changes need to be made so nurses and patients can be happy. Is there a simple answer? No. Will it ever change? Hopefully - and soon.

Nurses are not united. In fact the very opposite is true. I'm not talking about unions. I'm talking about being united and together fight for change, fight for their rights, for justice and recognition in their profession. One supporting and protecting the other in a healthy and just way. I see resignation and complacency in older nurses. As a new nurse, everytime I brought up an issue, I was treated as if I were picky, a whiner and I should not complain because things are like this or like that for this or that reason and I should suck it up, pay my duties and smile because what does not kill me, makes me stronger. Wonderful! It's almost as if they were taken the administration's side and justifying why things were bad as they were. As if suffering and pain should be part of nursing so it can be valued as it's. It's the perpetuation of this mentality that has got us where we are (among other health care issues that it'd take me too long of a message to address here). The shortage of nurses will continue and will get worse if things don't change. Baby boomers are getting older and sicker. We have capable, experienced, smart nurses leaving the profession... so we can have talks of hiring foreign nurses who don't even speak English and pay them nothing... I tell you... things will get much worse if a change does not happen soon. We need to wake up and actually do something about it, versus complain and jump from one tree to another in hopes that the rainbow is there... I don't have a clear idea about what should be done and how. Just know that a change is desperately need... if we want to survive in this profession... just my 2 cents.

ToxicShock · Jan 23, 2009

Nurses are not united. In fact the very opposite is true. I'm not talking about unions. I'm talking about being united and together fight for change, fight for their rights, for justice and recognition in their profession. One supporting and protecting the other in a healthy and just way. I see resignation and complacency in older nurses. As a new nurse, everytime I brought up an issue, I was treated as if I were picky, a whiner and I should not complain because things are like this or like that for this or that reason and I should suck it up, pay my duties and smile because what does not kill me, makes me stronger. Wonderful! It's almost as if they were taken the administration's side and justifying why things were bad as they were. As if suffering and pain should be part of nursing so it can be valued as it's. It's the perpetuation of this mentality that has got us where we are (among other health care issues that it'd take me too long of a message to address here). The shortage of nurses will continue and will get worse if things don't change. Baby boomers are getting older and sicker. We have capable, experienced, smart nurses leaving the profession... so we can have talks of hiring foreign nurses who don't even speak English and pay them nothing... I tell you... things will get much worse if a change does not happen soon. We need to wake up and actually do something about it, versus complain and jump from one tree to another in hopes that the rainbow is there... I don't have a clear idea about what should be done and how. Just know that a change is desperately need... if we want to survive in this profession... just my 2 cents.

I appreciate your reply, and I agree with you about change.

Maybe I'm too naive and idealistic, but I would definitely fight for myself and my fellow nurses if we weren't being treated right.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Jan 23, 2009

For all you burned out nurses....thank you for all you do.
I am a pre-nursing student. So can I paint the picture from the other side of the fence?
Could you imagine getting laid off every 2 or 3 years? Could you imagine that there were no jobs in that town/state, so you had to move every time you changed jobs? Could you imagine hearing your youngest tell her classmates that she has attended 10 different schools in 10 years! (OMG!:omy: )
Imagine being good at what you do and being ignored because your are in a male dominated field....and you are a female....blonde...and looks 10 yrs younger than chronological age? Can you imagine being transfered out of your current position because you informed your boss you are pregnant? Can you imagine being told that YOU can't go on the (group) business trip because, "you are a mom! Who is going to take care of your kids?!" (that was in 1989!)
Can you imagine your daughter dislocating her shoulder and her MAIN concern is not the shoulder but the ER bill because you couldn't afford $1000/mo contribution for a family medical policy at work? Or how about going back to work 1 wk or 2 wks after the birth of a child because you didn't have enough leave accrued and couldn't afford the time off?
Can you imagine that I have an EE degree....spent 8.5 yrs as a Rocket Scientist for the USAF and NASA, followed by 17 years as a Mainframe programmer? Can you imagine that my pay has been stagnant for the past 15 yrs?
Can you imagine that bad bosses and unsupportive management exists in every line of work? (Worst at Walmart BTW!)
I learned to be a happy person by counting my blessings instead of my problems.....and living in the moment.
The grass is greener on the other side of the fence because someone painted it with spray paint! LOL:vlin:

You sound like so many of us when we were in school. I worked 23 years in the factories before going to school for nursing. NEVER!! was I treated as badly by management, or co-workers. Add the patients and thier families into the mix and I've had it! I am a good nurse, I take care of my patients very well. I follow Dr's orders, company policy, I spend time with each patient, learning who they are, what they like or dislike, how I can help them, or just listening to thier joys & fears. What do I get for it?? Family complaining that pt needs more everything. Pt telling family that no one answers thier call bell or questions. I've been hit, scratched, kicked, had things thrown at me, and was picked up and physically thrown out of a room! Co-workers that complain because you didn't have time to stock the kitchen, empty trash, finish the work THEY left undone at the end of thier shift. I have reached the point that I am having anxiety attacks at the thought of returning to work. I am not going back to nursing, I will miss some aspects of it, but I am too burnt out to give anymore to people who don't appreciate anything done for them.

I hope things will be better for you, good luck.