Burnt out of bedside :( help

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Hi,

I have been a nurse now for 3.5 years on a busy inpt peds unit. Same ole story: we are freq. under staffed, I am working night shift, never take breaks... etc I no longer enjoy my job and freq feel defeated. The problem is I am only 25 :( I have wanted try other avenues of nursing like a clinic or I have been doing some research on call center nursing. Sometimes i feel too young to already want to leave the hospital tho. Does anyone know what kind of salary a call center nurse can expect? Would it be a bad decision this early in my career? Would love to hear frm someone in my boat that found somethig they like. My plan is to stay on PRN at the hospital to keep my foot in on clinical work... but I simply can't keep doing this. :(

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Specializes in ICU.

I definitely know how you feel in being too young to be burned out (I'm 25 also). That's why I'm going back to school. This was always the plan anyway, to work for a few years and then go back for my NP. I just don't know how people can do this for DECADES. I'm also interested in other settings, but would rather just go for my masters before they change NPs to being all PhD programs, etc, and before I start a family. I also have to say, I did not feel burnt out at ALL at my first job, so I think the job itself has a lot to do with it, and not just bedside nursing as a whole. Stay strong sister!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Telemetry.

I am 41 and have been a bedside medsurg/tele nurse for the past 4 year. I'm not burnt out yet, but I fear it is only a few short years away. I am graduating with my masters in nursing in about 10 weeks and am eagerly looking to transition into school nursing. I have been substituting as a school nurse for the last year and can't wait to get a full-time position within the next few years. School nursing is something I can do for the next 25 years till I am ready to retire. I will stay on in the hospital prn, but only do a few shifts a month for extra cash. I am looking forward to getting out of the rat race of medsurg and into something more doable like school nursing. I urge you to find something you can do well but enjoy at the same time and also have a life. Good luck.

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missrn11, i absolutely understand where you are coming from. i turn 31 next week and am a total loss as to what i want to be when i grow up. i love nursing, educating people about their health, taking excellent care of others loved ones, but i have compassion fatigue and really am starting to dread my job. i have only been a nurse since 2008. i enjoy telemetry nursing because it has it's challenges but i know if i go to another area i will be just as unsatisfied.

i have had thoughts of getting my fnp and actually started at university of phoenix. after four classes there was an issue with my financial aid (a whole other story) and i dropped out of the program. i was considering Grand Canyon University because i have coworkers who attend the same program, but really do not know if that is what i want to do with my life. i have a criminal justice degree prior to my bsn, but i feel forensic nursing is a little far behind in az compared to other states so i do not want to be a sane nurse and do not have enough experience to be a legal consultant. i am at a stand still at this point. i am going to apply for a master's degree program so i can teach nursing students but i know i do not want to be a career nursing instructor, but i know there is a need for energetic instructors who love what it means to be a nurse. i don't ever want to lose that reason i became a nurse. i just feel like i am giving too much of myself at the bedside, i cannot turn off my caring. so you are definitely not alone. if you are thinking of different areas contact a nurse in that area and see if you can shadow for a couple hours. i am sure there are nurses out there that would love to give a little of their knowledge about their career area. good luck!!

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Hi,

I am glad you posted this. I wish I could be of more help.

I am loosing my position as Cardiac Rehab Nurse in couple weeks. The economy is forcing our hospital to make cut backs and my position was one of them. I have enjoyed this form of nursing for 11 years. I shudder at the thought of having to go back to bedside nursing. I have been following all kinds of leads for call center nurses but I still am not sure what the pay is or how to get started. I live in Western KY and it seems most leads are in places like Arizona or California. Any one know any leads for Kentucky? I would like to find out more about working as a joint commission auditor too.

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You say you are burned-out with bedside nursing. I think you are burnt-out with your present work environment. Those are two different fruits. Ask yourself: do you enjoy working with patients and families, or is it you hate to be working your butt off because the place is short staffed?

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