Burnout tips?

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Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg.

I've been in the ED for 1.5 years. I've been feeling very on edge at work for the past several weeks. My patients are irritating me. My coworkers- who I love- are irritating me. Everything is irritating.

I'm tired of being yelled at by:

  • the floor, for having the audacity to be caring for a patient that requires inpatient care.
  • patients, for any number of reasons.
  • patient family members, again, for any number of reasons.
  • staff members on call who have to, OMG, come to work!

I'm tired of patients who come in, refuse any tests or treatments, and become upset with the staff. I'm tired of patients coming in only for medication refills (mostly pain). I'm tired of dumb parents who come in two forms: bringing the healthy kiddo in for EVERYTHING or bringing in the sick kiddo too late.

I'm tired of mean, nasty patients. While I empathize with their pain, I still deserve to be treated with respect. Shoot, I'll even take indifference over what most of them are offering.

I need tips to get through this funk. I know everyone has times like this. What are your favorite ways to get through?

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Sounds like you need a vacation! Seriously, some time away from the ER to relax and decompress would do you good.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I second that -- you need a vacation!!! Good grief. I know it's time for a vacation when EVERYTHING is irritating and I can't take anything in stride or find the good stuff in my day. *hugs* Be good to yourself.

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Specializes in ER.

I find there are days when I feel this way. Some days it is every patient that drives me nuts, other days it is sefinitely the team I a workng with.... bunch of ding dogs. Then the next day is great. Hang in there.

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I found that no amount of vacation helped me. I got out. Now I work in a small community ED, and it's different. It's more personal and people don't get away with acting like asses. Of course, I haven't been at it for very long, but so far it's a far cry from the big regional trauma center.

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It took me 26 days to realize the ER was not my cup of tea. Maybe you should explore other options?

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Specializes in Oncology, Ortho/trauma,.

Sometimes when boundaries are over stepped or you feel a loss of control this can come across as frustration and irritation. I know one of the most empowering sentences I began to tell patients who were belligerent was "I understand you feel ____(insert angry, scared, frustrated) You have a right to feel that way and I will do my best to help you. But I like to be treated with respect- as I know you do too, so I would appreciate it if you would please change your tone when speaking with me" or the inappropriate patient "I would appreciate it if you would refrain from inappropriate comments like that. I am here to help you. Please talk to me as you would your daughter, mother, grandmother."

The same concept can be said about co-workers like the floor nurse who yells at you for report. Say something like "wow it sound like you are stressed/busy, perhaps I can give report to another nurse on your floor or you can call me back in 5 minutes?"

As far as patient family member if they get to crazy you can always ask them to leave with security's assistance.

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Specializes in gyn.

Time away from work is always helpful. Use that time wisely to do the things that nurture you, whatever they are: painting, exercise, yoga, church, family time, going to the movies, a cooking class. You get the idea. Taking care of other people and never yourself is bad news. Nurture those non-nurse parts of you. Interestingly, I find I have more to talk about with my patients when I can make good small talk about stuff outside work. Nothing like distraction about the latest football game during an IV start to help distract my patient.

The very nature of ER work is stressful and our patients can very well suck the lifeblood out of us if we let them. It definitely took some time for me to take a step back and say to myself, "I am dealing with a manipulative patient. They need to be told 'no.'" Consider what behaviors are bothering you and then learn how to set boundaries for those behaviors. In the ER there are definitely times to "let it roll off you back" and there are times to address bad behavior. Consider that. No one deserves to be treated like crap. I'm always working on this.

For me personally working a million hours a week leaves me tired and cranky and unable to deal with things as well as I would if I were fresh and rested. I limit the amount of OT I work because it will negatively affect my patient care and my ability to handle ****** situations. I find that I'm at my most burnt out after working too many shifts in a row.

If you can't change your environment, change your shift. Switch to days. Switch to nights. Work fast track. Work triage. Different crew, different atmosphere. I work in a relatively large setting and can request to work in a different part of the ER. I can also request to have a different work-buddy - the RN who works in the rooms beside or adjacent to me.

Talk to someone you work with about the burnout. If they've been there for awhile they've been there too and might have some practical suggestions.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

1.5 years you say?

You need a change of venue. Good luck.

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Specializes in Emergency/ICU.

PA,

I think burnout is happening to me now at 2.5 years in the ED. When I started losing my empathy and sympathy for almost everyone except the very sickest patients, I realized what was happening. I want to care. I love the ED. My solution? I will begin to work 1 of my 3 days per week in the ICU, where I won't have to deal with the heavy traffic and my patients will be truly sick. I'm hoping it works out.

I suspect this is an evolutionary process as well, working through stages of growth as a nurse. If I can emerge from this stage with my compassion and love of nursing intact, it will be a positive stage to move through. I hope you are able to move through this phase and maintain your love of nursing. I wish you the best.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

A change of scenery is nice. After traumas in Afghanistan for 9 months, I will be overjoyed to be in my "home" ER again! Find something that helps you rediscover what you love about the ER. Maybe it's a matter of changing to a new ER? Do you have some local options?

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Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg.

Quick update! I changed a few things- no more OT and I took a lovely eight days of PTO and did whatever I wanted to do, which, to be honest, was a whole lot of nothing. I feel much better and was clearly just in a rough spot.

Thank you for the venting opportunity and the excellent advice!

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