burnout?

dorimar, BSN, RN · May 16, 2006

I'm right there with you and have been for some time. I will say that you sound like an extraordinary nurse, and it will be a loss to the profession if you do go. I've said this repeatedly, but i think ICU is tougher on the nurses who really care. We are the ones who burn out, and hence the compassionate caring nurses are being replaced by the ones that are there for the paycheck.

At the same time, you can't kill yourself because it is good for the patients. I can honestly say that if i knew how to do anything else that paid as well, i'd leave nursing in a heartbeat. I don't know anything else. I've done this for 20 years. I will also add that I will NEVER encourage my children to pursue this career.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide.

dietcokeRN · May 16, 2006

Thank you, Dori- I really appreciate your thoughts and the compliment. Good luck to you, too...

JiffyGriff · May 17, 2006

I've said this repeatedly, but i think ICU is tougher on the nurses who really care. We are the ones who burn out, and hence the compassionate caring nurses are being replaced by the ones that are there for the paycheck.

Not to start trouble but that burns me..... Yes if you are a very EMOTIONAL person then you probably shouldn't work in the ICU because we see the worst of the worst. However, to say that just because there are those of us that don't get emotional about patients dying and don't take baggage home with us after we get off work that we don't care and are just there for the paycheck is ludacris. Nurses are paid pretty low for the stress level of their job, I don't think anyone goes into for the money. I don't get emotional about things at all but I definitely care. That statement rubs me wrong as I'm sure it does a lot of other ICU nurses as well.

dorimar, BSN, RN · May 18, 2006

I didn't say anything about being emotional. I mentioned care and compassion. Sorry, but it is sorely lacking in the profession now days.

JiffyGriff · May 18, 2006

I didn't say anything about being emotional. I mentioned care and compassion.

I know what you said, that's why I put the word emotional in capital letters......if you are getting burnt out because of your care and compassion then it is the emotions that the care and compassion generates that burns you out. All I'm saying is that people are able to be caring and compassionate without harboring the emotion that allows the hard things to effect their mindset. And that just because some people don't show the outward emotion that demonstrates caring and compassion it doesn't mean that they aren't caring and compassionate and that they are just there for the paycheck.

Even with that said.....people choose to pursue a career to make money, bottom line. Whatever career they choose is generally guided by what they feel strongly about or what makes them happy. If someone chooses to go into nursing then they care about people, It's too demanding of a job and too stressful to continue doing it if they didn't. Some people just show it in different ways than others. It's not anybodies job to make that judgement.

Dinith88 · May 18, 2006

I'm right there with you and have been for some time. I will say that you sound like an extraordinary nurse, and it will be a loss to the profession if you do go. I've said this repeatedly, but i think ICU is tougher on the nurses who really care. We are the ones who burn out, and hence the compassionate caring nurses are being replaced by the ones that are there for the paycheck.
At the same time, you can't kill yourself because it is good for the patients. I can honestly say that if i knew how to do anything else that paid as well, i'd leave nursing in a heartbeat. I don't know anything else. I've done this for 20 years. I will also add that I will NEVER encourage my children to pursue this career.
I wish you luck in whatever you decide.

I have to agree with JiffyGRiff. I think your statement that the 'caring nurses' are being replaced by non-caring nurses who only want a pay-check is wrong. WE all deal with the awful stress of death, suffering, tragedy, etc. in different ways. Perhaps you're too sensitive for the stuff we deal with. BUt to assume that any nurse who does well, likes, or thrives in ICU doesn't care and is only there for money is wrong.

bahamagirl · May 18, 2006

I believe that we are no good to our patients if we get too involved in the emotional side. Emotion can sometimes cloud our judgment. We are their to save the patient and not to cry with the family. I care very much about my patients and do my absolute best to look after them. I feel the family take more comfort in this then me grieving with them. It is our responsibility to keep our emotions in check and perform our duties with the utmost professionalism. We are no good to ourselves, our patients, the families and our co-workers if we get too involved.

king of codes · May 19, 2006

I'm finding a middle ground here. some days I can go home after the wost of the worst and sleep like a baby and some days I can hug a family member and cry with them out of the blue. This doen't incompacitate me to function as a nurse with the instability of a patient, it's those times when your having end of life choice discussions, a new admit, a bad diagnosis... that as a nurse you can shed a tear too and be functional. We're human, we love our patients, we mourn them too.

that being said, I took dori's post to get my back up a bit (just being honest here). I can't cry and take this home with me every day and STILL be functional at work and at home (Or I WILL burn out)... and it doesn't make me in it only for the $$$. I care 24/7, if my off tempored humor at times (only in the presence of staff that knows I'm dedicated and care rears it's ugly head.).. I'm just coping differently, to be able to clock in the next day and do it all over again. It's called a defense mechanism. ICU nurses have the sickest of humors.

Dori- I think you may have passed judgment a bit quickly or have been exposed to staff that are NOT the norm, please consider this.

to the OP, yep- you'll burn out. Sometimes once a week, it's when you can no longer consistantly regroup to be there for your patient and thier family and it's now affecting yourself and home life that you are DONE. Never sacrifice your health and home life for the job as on ongoing basis. I hope this helps. feel free to message me. Know what you're going through... I've survived 11 yrs and yep, my heart still gets broken at work, I've just learned how to heal faster.

king of codes · May 19, 2006

I believe that we are no good to our patients if we get too involved in the emotional side. Emotion can sometimes cloud our judgment. We are their to save the patient and not to cry with the family. I care very much about my patients and do my absolute best to look after them. I feel the family take more comfort in this then me grieving with them. It is our responsibility to keep our emotions in check and perform our duties with the utmost professionalism. We are no good to ourselves, our patients, the families and our co-workers if we get too involved.

I was intrigued by your response, I completely recognise that you CARE for your patients, what do you do off shift then to cope with the feelings that you've held at bay all shift?

I have no intention of trying to turn your words around as I respect what you're saying, but I don't think that hugging a family member that you're close to or sitting and having a brief tear jerker with them makes a nurse less professional. However I do recognise the need for the separation to the extent that is needed for us to function as nurses and not be sobbing with the family....

so I'm just wondering how you've seperated it and what do you do with the left over feelings afterwards. (we do post code talks, get EAP to hold de-briefings...Sometimes have a wine morning get together and rehash it) what works for you?

thanks

rob

thanks

dorimar, BSN, RN · May 19, 2006

While I do occassionally shed a tear with a family member, or more often a colleague, that was not what i meant about burning out because one cares. It is usually the hard work and the stress that get me.

It has always been important to me that I treat my patients as I would expect to be treated in the same situation. This means that I know my patient's medical hx up and down, know all his lab and xray trends, and act on these when indicated, I know what problems have arisen since their stay,and i know the plan, & will call and give the doc a little push when needed to get something my patient needs. It means i will turn my sedated patients Q2 hours, and keep them clean and dry at whatever cost to me. I will change all their dressings & ET tapes or do their trach care and oral care often. I will ensure my patients are as comfortable as feasable physically and emotionally. If i have a highly stressed or needy patient, i try to remain kind and patient and try to accommodate the patient. When I have stressed familes with lots of questions that can be demanding at times, I try to be patient with them despite how it can put me behind sometimes. I will smile and intoduce myself to patient and family and ask if there is anything I can answer for them or do for them, and then I do it.

Now you all may be saying you nurse this way as well and I'm glad if you do. However, I have been around the block more than a few times recently, and i have seen MANY nurses who: don't turn their sedated vented patients Q2 hours if family is not present, ignore crying patients, taken call lights away, answered call lights witheye rolls & exasperated huffs and comments to the patient who has used their call light often, breaked all night-surfing the net, reading, NAPPING, smoking, etc and yet still couldn't tell you what kind of surgery their patient had, let alone that his K+ was 2.9 since they never checked it when they should have known to do so. I 've seen alarms and trends ignored and patients not checked. I've seen many an emergent intubation at the beginning of shifts that should have been jumped on long before by the prior shift, and might have had the nurses checked or acted on the patient.

Now, I am not saying you all nurse like this. I am just saying that I see more and more who do these days. (And I am basing this on experience-- past and present). Nurses can get away with just about anything these days due to the shortage. It is very tiring, stressfull, and wearing to nurse the way i do. I know I could get away with much less, but I am a harsh judge of self. I will add that i do not "write people up" or get in their face about any of it, but i have become very disheartened at what my profession has become.

Now I gleaned from the original poster that she nursed a little like I do, and I was expressing true empathy. and yes pointing out that as we get burned, tired and leave, the nursing field is getting diluted with people who don't care as much and therefore don't bust their ass the way we do, and hence don't burn out at the same rate. Sorry if it offends, but I have thought long and hard about this for awhile, and I truly believe it.

king of codes · May 20, 2006

dori, get what you are saying completely. for some reason, as I'd stated I took your statement a bit personally and wanted to provide a rebuttal.

I do see what you do as well, as I've traveled through many states. I've come across nurses that watch TV, walk into a room with the pt. positioned as I've left them the night before ect. I was only speaking personnaly as to how I deal with nursing burn out. What I'm generally seeing is a large population of really excellent nurses who WANT to give the best care they can and do to 10,0000 other circumstances are hindered, frustrated and done.