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.
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.
This is significantly clarified from your original post, and yes, when you put it in this way, I do agree with you.
I have worked ICU for 20 years and even today I have times that I feel like you do..these feelings however are present in almost all nursing jobs I think.
But from time to time I have left ICU and explored Home health, med surg,
anesthesia and I have always come back to ICU. Some times the grass looks greener but we find out it isn't but we just need the break. That is one great thing abut nursing ICU will always be there-just be sure to give a good notice if you leave- and like home you can always go back to it if you find yourself missing it.
I think everyone has dealt with burnout, and everyone deals with it in different ways. May I ask, when was your last vacation? I try to get away from it all every few months, even if it's something as simple as visiting friends in the next city over for a few days. I find that getting to a place where there's no chance I could get cajolled into working an extra shift helps me free my mind. And inbetween, I clear my thoughts through regular exercise, especially some yoga.
If you truly love nursing, try finding your own release, something else you love that can help make you feel better at the end of the day.
Wow, I'm really glad I read this. You guys know a lot about how to be aware of your burnout feelings. It is a strange thing. I'm only in my 4th month in the ICU, & sometimes I find that the most random things affect me. I can see horrible things and go home at the end of the day saying "well, we did our best." But every now and then some little thing will hit me, and it goes right to the core. I'm still learning what I need to do to take care of myself. I applaud everyone who tries to "do right" by their patients. I'm not perfect, but I do the best I can. I wish more people I work with cared the same way. I was shocked to learn that some nurses nap at night, etc. I was taught that we are professionals. That is no way for a professional to behave.
JiffyGriff
94 Posts
This is significantly clarified from your original post, and yes, when you put it in this way, I do agree with you.