Burnout

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 11, 2017

My name is Penny and I have been an LVN/LPN for 25 years. I have worked mainly in LTC/SNF and on a post Acute unit with Vent/Trach patients. My question and concern is that I am BURNED OUT working in this environment to the point of asking myself if this is what I really want to do anymore..... I got into nursing because it is MY PASSION. I'm just at a crossroad at this point Please can someone help me with other options for an LVN. I have tried Home Health and unfortunately it's not
for me. I really enjoy staying busy...actually that may sound a little crazy.... any advice???

Are you truly burned out or have you just lost YOUR PASSION? I ask because despite what many seem to think, it isn't necessary to have a passion to be a competent and caring nurse. If you've lost your PASSION after 25 years, that seems understandable.

If you are truly burned out, there are lots of steps you can take. Sometimes all it requires is a change of shift: days to nights, nights to days, rotating to permanent shift, permanent shift to rotating. Just a change in schedule may shake things up enough to help you re-engage in nursing and see your present job with new eyes.

Sometimes burn out requires a change of scenery -- I've found that changing specialties is a great way to get me interested and engaged again. Or changing jobs within my specialty -- ICU to IMCU or vice versa. LTC to LTAC or hospice or the rehab floor in your local hospital or even the Magnet hospital in the big city an hour away. Sometimes changing employers within my same specialty -- although usually I've accompanied this with a HUGE change in scenery by moving cross country.

You could try an outpatient setting or corrections. My friend LOVES her job in corrections. Stay in your present job and battle burnout by working on an ADN or BSN to become an RN -- all sorts of options open up to you as an RN that aren't available as an LVN. Or change your focus and get your fulfillment from volunteering or hobbies rather than your job: volunteer at the local animal shelter, become a soloist in your church choir, learn to ski or scuba dive (saved me when I was feeling completely overwhelmed and burned out in my job), sky dive or shoot competitively. Train for a marathon or to swim across the bay (whichever bay you're nearest).