burnout

tele jelly · Apr 1, 2009

It sounds like you would really benefit by taking your life in a completely different direction...try something new? Ever thought about teaching? School nursing? Administration? The negative environment will only continue to drag you down if you stay. At the very least, I would get out of that hospital and change your unit. Best of luck in dealing with your depression and nursing career :icon_hug:

ricquet · Apr 1, 2009

Hi

I know how you are feeling, i feel the same way and i am just 5years in. I feel as if i am punishing myself each day i go to work. I am at the point were i really don't like my profession at all i can't bare to hear the word NURING!!!!

I really don't know what to do i feel like walking away and basically do any odd job

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

I felt the same way and it eventually got to where they terminated me. I think of it as god taking care of something i refused to. i was unhappy and REALLY burned out but didnt realize it until i was out of there 6 weeks. i waited that long to even look for a job. Get time off or get out of that environment if they won't let you off. you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of someone else. so do what it takes even if means another part of nursing

Tom123 · Apr 1, 2009

RandeeN,

I am sorry to hear about your burnout, but from what you describe, I can definitely understand. I am confussed. Is your nurse manager requiring you to have a note from your physician to return to work? I thnk the answer to that is yes. Also, who is refusing to let you see the available positions in the hospital? If it is your NM, then make an appointment with the Vice President. She cannot refuse to let you see what is available. That is illegal.

I gather that you have been at this hospital for several years. You have probably gained a reputation as a good or excellent nurse. If that is the case, USE IT. Take your last few evaluations and see the VP. Having been in the VP position, I would much rather see one of my best nurses, go to another unit -- with less stress that loose him/her.

As you have undoubtly heared the old saying, "Nurses eat their young." Well, regretfully, in many cases, Nurses try to eat other experienced nurses as well.

The Best to You, and please keep me informed.

Wendy Leebov Ed.D. · Apr 1, 2009

This is so sad when a person dedicated over so many years reaches such burnout. Is't there some other nursing position in your organization where you have a chance for more of a relationships witgh patients, like dialysis or outpatient? After so many years and so much experience, it would be sad to lsoe you to the profession.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

I gather that you have been at this hospital for several years. You have probably gained a reputation as a good or excellent nurse. If that is the case, USE IT. Take your last few evaluations and see the VP. Having been in the VP position, I would much rather see one of my best nurses, go to another unit -- with less stress that loose him/her. quote]
I totally agree, I have many, many years corporate exp (my first career)... never deal with lower management, go as high as you can. Lower management just doesn't think of the big picture, can't work it past their own interests(which is why they are lower management). Do not discuss your ideas with your NM, these people can have a way of quashing things that don't work out to make their lives easy.

loricatus · Apr 2, 2009

I gather that you have been at this hospital for several years. You have probably gained a reputation as a good or excellent nurse. If that is the case, USE IT. Take your last few evaluations and see the VP. Having been in the VP position, I would much rather see one of my best nurses, go to another unit -- with less stress that loose him/her. quote]
I totally agree, I have many, many years corporate exp (my first career)... never deal with lower management, go as high as you can. Lower management just doesn't think of the big picture, can't work it past their own interests(which is why they are lower management). Do not discuss your ideas with your NM, these people can have a way of quashing things that don't work out to make their lives easy.
Only problem with that is many in lower management will get seriously ticked when someone goes above their head and will retaliate with, at the least, temper tantrums-only making the OP problem worse.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

Only problem with that is many in lower management will get seriously ticked when someone goes above their head and will retaliate with, at the least, temper tantrums-only making the OP problem worse.

That is why we must handle these things d e l i c a t e l y ... says the Wicked Witch of the West.

ricquet · Apr 2, 2009

Thanks for the support , i am presently on a few days off.

I will just keep holding on until God answers my prayers

mustlovepoodles, RN · Apr 3, 2009

RandeeN, I so identify with you. I have been nursing for 31 years. Done a little bit of everything in my time, most recently school nursing in a very distressed school. I became very burned out this year after several serious incidents at work, including a few assaults, a bad child abuse case, and an incident in which a student hid in my clinic and jumped out at me and I nearly passed out. The more i tried to work it out, the worse things got at work. I began having chest pain, terrible anxiety, extreme unreasonable fear (can you say PTSD?) Finally I went into a full blown major depressive episode and wound up in a psych facility for 8 days. That's not the end of it--I went back to work under duress. I didn't feel ready to go back to the fast, chaotic pace and I have no assistance of any kind.

I knew I wasn't up to it, but I went back anyway. Bad idea. In February I broke down again, only this time I ended up in an Impaired Professionals program for 7 WEEKS. Part of my recovery has been figuring out what to do about work. I don't feel like I can go back to the "scene of the crime." I get palpitations even talking about it, lotta anxiety. Truthfully, I have no intention of going back. I don't care if I have to work at Wal-Mart, I'm not going back to that school. So the big question is where do I go from here? It sounds to me like you might be asking that same question?

Burnout is a serious work issue for nurses. I don't think I know of any nurse who hasn't at some point gotten burnt out on the constant caregiving, hospital politics, shift work and unwanted overtime. Sometimes you just have to walk away and start over somewhere else. But first you have to know yourself. Perhaps you can use some time now to re-evaluate, to figure out who you are and what you want to do.

Wal-Mart's not the worst decision.

alwayslearnin · Apr 3, 2009

RandeeN,

Thank you so much for sharing. I hope that you feel supported by the posts comming back to you. It helps just knowing that you are not alone-you arn't.

How is the rest of your life outside of nursing? Do you have some friends and activities that you enjoy? Part of my experience with burnout is that the rest of my life was unbalanced-I worked, took care of my kids and family, but didn't develope anything really outside of that-so I had to get out and start doing more things that I enjoyed and spent more time with friends and took up some new interests-its helping. I don't know if this is a part of a puzzle piece for you, but something to consider if there is something outside your nursing life that could use a change.

Good luck to you and don't forget to relax a little bit on the journey-youll find your way if you keep open and looking

Blessings

alwayslearnin