are you burnt out too?

Retired R.N. · May 10, 2006

Just because school teaches it, doesn't mean the workforce offers it. things taught in school are the idealway of doing things

So where are the leadership skills of nurses today? If they cannot, or will not, provide for their own and their colleagues well-being, why should we trust them to do what is best for their patients?

mchrisrn · May 10, 2006

I too am totally burnt out...for all the above reasons and more..i have posted this many times on this website. After almost 30 yrs at my hospital, I have my "termination" letter ready, and called my clinical manager three times to ask if she"d have a few minutes for me...she never answered the phone so I just never handed it in. I spent a whole week crying, depressed, b/c I cant find another job that I think would be better. I have applied for 4 or 5 jobs but havent heard from any. I dont have a bachelors degree and dont know a lot about word or excell. If I quit without another job lined up, I lose hospitalization for myself, husband and one of our kids. So I'll continue on b/c theres nothing else I know how to do. A BSN would take at least 2 yrs and 20000 bucks which I cant really afford with 2 in college now. I applied for research, cardiac rehab nurse, CHF clinic assistant manager....nothing. I guess 30 yrs of med-surg bedside nursing qualifies you for nothing more than more bedside nursing..........

cwgirlqtpie · May 10, 2006

I guess I am getting to the "burnt out" point ... two years as a brand new nurse in a LTC facility will do that I suppose. I recently s witched to PRN status and only work two 12's a week because I realized I had a problem at work. When I went to work and wanted to ignore an 80 something year old multiple CVA pt because she was annoying me, I knew I had to make a change. I think that too much is expected of lpn's these days and feel like (especially in ltc) a doctor or an rn is never around when you need one. We are left to handle (on a good day) 30 or more patients, at least one on duty nurse practitioner, a DON and ADON who don't do much actual nursing anymore .... CNA's fighting ... lack of materials that are needed, faxes and calls to and from md's pharmacies, hospitals, family members ... we got docked for our breaks that we never even take. THEN if you mention that you didn't take a break and want to get paid for that 30 minutes per day, administration freaks out and tells you that you need your break. So, you take your break and go into overtime every week and get chewed out for abusing the time clock .. there is no win/win situation. I'm working PRN two nights a week ... pay jumped up considerably and my two nights are secure ... work 24 get paid for 32, so at least I didn't take a pay cut to change hours ..... I go back to school in the fall to work towards my BSN. I hope I can get out and find something not as draining as LTC

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · May 10, 2006

I too am totally burnt out...for all the above reasons and more..i have posted this many times on this website. After almost 30 yrs at my hospital, I have my "termination" letter ready, and called my clinical manager three times to ask if she"d have a few minutes for me...she never answered the phone so I just never handed it in. I spent a whole week crying, depressed, b/c I cant find another job that I think would be better. I have applied for 4 or 5 jobs but havent heard from any. I dont have a bachelors degree and dont know a lot about word or excell. If I quit without another job lined up, I lose hospitalization for myself, husband and one of our kids. So I'll continue on b/c theres nothing else I know how to do. A BSN would take at least 2 yrs and 20000 bucks which I cant really afford with 2 in college now. I applied for research, cardiac rehab nurse, CHF clinic assistant manager....nothing. I guess 30 yrs of med-surg bedside nursing qualifies you for nothing more than more bedside nursing..........

keep the faith, you have valuable experience. Your stability, for one, is a huge attribute. Something will turn up. Don't give up. Maybe you could take a computer class (if you feel it is holding you back)?

burn out · May 10, 2006

Yes I am burn out too but not with the nursing but the stress of working short, physically demanding work on an aging body and the fear that in 10 more years I will still be doing the same thng and physically unable to keep up. I like what I do and feel that I give 110% everyday to my patients but the expectations are great.

chadash · May 10, 2006

Any non nursing areas you would recommend to a tired old people lifter?

Karen · May 10, 2006

I can say was burned out. After 19 years in nursing, a master's degree, the last 12/19 teaching nursing I was SO burned out that I left my tenured faculty position with paycheck and holidays off to go to engineering school. I also started my own publishing business. I had a brief window of opportunity to go to school full time and unfortunately I live in Florida and was in the direct path of two hurricaines in 2004. With all the problems it caused I was unable to continue in school at that time. I was working agency and realizing I enjoyed patient care and gave myself 9 months to think things over and try to decide what to do next. I realized I had a lot to offer in nursing and decided to embrace that. I am happy with what I do now and not stressed...because.... I ONLY work per diem at one hospital, I rarely work more than 2 12hour shifts a week and I never work more than two days in a row. I know my limitations. I work on a stressful tele floor and I also enjoy my business. The money is very tempting but working full time and overtime in nursing is too much.

leslie :-D · May 10, 2006

I applied for research, cardiac rehab nurse, CHF clinic assistant manager....nothing. I guess 30 yrs of med-surg bedside nursing qualifies you for nothing more than more bedside nursing..........

i am very distressed by these statements.

a nurse w/30 yrs experience has nowhere to go, except bedside.

THAT is a disgrace.

on the other end of the spectrum, the new grads are getting burnt out very prematurely.

i think we can all stay in undesirable work environments for a million different reasons. but when our body, mind and spirit is dying a slow death, it's time to walk away. it's high time we put ourselves first. our livelihood is at stake, as is the disintegration of our families, friends, social life. we do have choices. walk away, or nothing will ever change.

mchrisrn, would you ever consider home health?

with peace,

leslie

Karen · May 10, 2006

I agree with earle58 ----I would have to say that bedside nursing is the BEST place to be if you are a nurse. Also, thanks to graduate school I have done extensive reading on caring philosophy and theory and THE MOST BASIC premise is that before you can care for others you must care for yourself. Its easy to forget.

chadash · May 10, 2006

Found this article about nurse's burn out:

http://www.nurseweek.com/features/97-2/burn.html

Nursing requires much more from you than other "civilian" jobs.

leslie :-D · May 10, 2006

Found this article about nurse's burn out:
http://www.nurseweek.com/features/97-2/burn.html
Nursing requires much more from you than other "civilian" jobs.

thanks for the article chadash.

learning to love and heal ourselves is key.

what i don't like about the article is that it encourages nurses to tolerate intolerable conditions, and provides outlets to deal with such stressors.

at this stage in my nsg life, i think i'll just say 'no more'.

chadash · May 10, 2006

thanks for the article chadash.
learning to love and heal ourselves is key.
what i don't like about the article is that it encourages nurses to tolerate intolerable conditions, and provides outlets to deal with such stressors.
at this stage in my nsg life, i think i'll just say 'no more'.

I think you are right. Maybe if enough people say "enough is enough", things will change.