burnout (repost)

[dietcokeRN]

I posted this in the ICU forum, but decided to post it here as well. I hope this isn't poor netiquette. I thought it was appropriate in both forums, and realize that not everyone in General Nursing reads the ICU boards...

I've only worked in intensive care for a a little over a year, and I'm already beginning to feel like I'm burning out. I'm not at the point where I just can't go into work anymore, but I'm getting to the point of wanting to find something new. I'm tired of the stress, of the sadness, of the extremely physically-intense labor. I'm tired of twelve hour shifts, working weekends, and working holidays. I want to work the same hours my family works.

At the same time, I love the pace, the challenge, and the highly-skilled work I do. I like helping family members through the most difficult times of their lives. I love being part of a team that saves a life.

So, what do I do? Maybe this post is just a "venting" post... I know there will always be pro's and con's to wherever I choose to work. Sometimes I find myself wondering, "who in their right mind would CHOOSE to work in ICU?"

I'm thinking about (eventually) changing jobs. I think I would really like to work in a physician's office, 9-5 with no weekends, no holidays. I'm not sure how long I should stay in intensive care. It's wonderful education, and I am learning so much. I don't want to bow out too quickly, only to find that I miss it.

Anyone else going through a similar problem?

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

There are a lot of options,, school nursing, occupational nursing, office, specialty office. There are other jobs in nursing out there that have more "normal" hours. There also maybe people in your facility that WANT to work nights if they could just find someone who would be willing to do all those days. Consider a switch, as long as you both are working a full-time shift and can work exact opposite rotational days,, ya never know. Its worked for me for several years. Some people actually prefer nights.

[TazziRN, RN]

Several years ago I thought I'd burned out on ER nursing and I quit. I took a couple of months off and had every intention of going into home care, even interviewed and was hired by an agency. Then I saw an ad for a part time ER nurse in a rural hospital, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I realized then that it wasn't emergency medicine I was burned out on, it was that particular ER. I needed to get away from what had grown to be a toxic environment. Is it possible that this is what's happened to you?