Hello to my fellow brothers/sisters! I need some insight and encouragement (if any of you have any spare energy to give...true story)
Backstory:
I am 26 years old and have been working as a full-time RN for a year now; the last 6 months I have also been doing my BSN program online (also full-time). Before I passed my NCLEX I was in school/working for 4 years (this journey began when I was 21).
After working for a year as an RN, and now onto my second job as a clinic nurse/circulation OR nurse for a cosmetic surgeon, I am finding myself to be COMPLETELY fried and burnt out. I am one of 2 nurses there, so support is lacking...In the past 5 years of school/work I have taken a week at a time, here and there, to take a road trip and get away; some relief was offered, but nothing that would last for long. There have also been a few deaths in the family and other life-related struggles that everyone goes through. I am at the point now where I question (severely) if this is where I am supposed to be. I dread going to work every day, I cry at least every other day, my migraines are coming back, and I am flat-out tired. The thought of work or school is absolutely repulsive and makes my stomach churn.
That being said, I love working with my patients; but I know that I am completely drained at this point. A week is not enough time to re-charge. I am thinking of going back to being a server while I complete my BSN degree this year.
End Goal:
I would love to do national/international travel nursing, but the roadblock I continue to run into is that agencies require 1-2 yrs in an acute care hospital. I feel trapped at this point, as the hospitals around here are not hiring unless one has a BSN (I have my ADN). I honestly do not feel as though I could make it another year (to finish my BSN)...hell, I hardly feel like I can make it another week!
Has anyone else gone through something similar? I wonder if this is a normal response or if I am weak or not cut out for this?
Thanks for reading!
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Hello to my fellow brothers/sisters! I need some insight and encouragement (if any of you have any spare energy to give...true story)
Backstory:
I am 26 years old and have been working as a full-time RN for a year now; the last 6 months I have also been doing my BSN program online (also full-time). Before I passed my NCLEX I was in school/working for 4 years (this journey began when I was 21).
After working for a year as an RN, and now onto my second job as a clinic nurse/circulation OR nurse for a cosmetic surgeon, I am finding myself to be COMPLETELY fried and burnt out. I am one of 2 nurses there, so support is lacking...In the past 5 years of school/work I have taken a week at a time, here and there, to take a road trip and get away; some relief was offered, but nothing that would last for long. There have also been a few deaths in the family and other life-related struggles that everyone goes through. I am at the point now where I question (severely) if this is where I am supposed to be. I dread going to work every day, I cry at least every other day, my migraines are coming back, and I am flat-out tired. The thought of work or school is absolutely repulsive and makes my stomach churn.
That being said, I love working with my patients; but I know that I am completely drained at this point. A week is not enough time to re-charge. I am thinking of going back to being a server while I complete my BSN degree this year.
End Goal:
I would love to do national/international travel nursing, but the roadblock I continue to run into is that agencies require 1-2 yrs in an acute care hospital. I feel trapped at this point, as the hospitals around here are not hiring unless one has a BSN (I have my ADN). I honestly do not feel as though I could make it another year (to finish my BSN)...hell, I hardly feel like I can make it another week!
Has anyone else gone through something similar? I wonder if this is a normal response or if I am weak or not cut out for this?
Thanks for reading!