Burnt out

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I truly am in love with Nursing but I am burnt out. Are we as nurses only as good as the last shift we picked up, are we only as good as the last shift we were understaffed and gave it our best. I am not sure that they haven't taken all we have to give. The sources of burn out are endless. Please tell me your story and how you cope with all this. Many times i feel that we are boxed in. I love Nursing, I love being a patient advocate, I love giving quality care, I dont want to lose it but i feel burnt out

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Here is a small list of nursing opportunities that doesn't involve bedside care:

Utilization Review Nurse

School Nurse

Parish Nurse

Managment of Care Nurse (Case Management) with insurance companies (United Healthcare, Atena, etc)

Clinical Liaison Nurse

Nurse Educator

Clinical Research Nurse

Wellness/Fitness Nurse

Nurse Auditor

Forsenic Nurse

and many, many others.

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

I absolutely love nursing and could not see myself doing anything else. However, I am getting burned out from the bedside arena. I first felt burnt out only five years into my career, so I switced from med-surg to ICU, which has been great for the last five years. Then a couple years ago, I started getting that burned out feeling again, but still wanted to work at the bedside some, so I dropped down to part-time ICU and part-time in a non-bedside position. Now, though I love patient interaction, bedside nursing is just becoming too physically demanding (I have RA) and I get really exhausted by the end of a 12 hour shift. I am currently looking for another job that is hopefully still in the hospital setting, but not at the bedside. I know the right job will come up at some point, but I'm not rushing into anything at the moment as I do love my current jobs and my coworkers and feel blessed to have both. Maybe a change of scenery will help you to get out of your rut.

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Specializes in ER, MED-SURG, TELE.

if you dont suffer from major debt and HAVE to be at work, then take a break!! take an extended vacation and learn or focus on something different. i love my job in the ER but need breaks to fill my own inner passions. this in the long run will benefit not only you but the patients you care for. for example, i am taking two months to live in my van and ski with my husband.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

I totally understand. After almost 20 yrs at the bedside, I'm ready for a change. The other poster forgot to mention advice nurse, which is what I'm looking into. I am also tired of bedside nursing. I really don't have a lot of advice except take care of yourself! Nurses are always caring for others, so I think we forget about what we need! I've decided to get a massage every month! I deserve it!

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The way I see it -- be a good nurse but don't let it be your life :)

Leave work at work. On your commute home, reflect on your day as a way of release. When you get home, do the things you like, love, and have to do and make sure you leave plenty of hours to get your rest and sleep. On your days off, live it up even more! Go on a trip, do something spontaneous, buy something you've always wanted (I do this rarely... retail therapy's not the best kind but oh does it work wonders!), or just spend some quality time with your family.

I love being a nurse, even though I've only been one for about 2 years. Nursing is a big part of me, but it's not all that I am. I make it a priority to remember that always.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

To OP - your description of your emotional state does not indicate "burnout" because that label is associated with a lack of empathy/caring for patients. You're exhausted, frustrated, and probably mad as H^^^, but burned out - not so much. You still care.

If you want more info on burnout - read up on Dr Heather Laschinger's work. She has researched nursing burnout for the last two decades. It's very interesting stuff. Very puzzling that organizations have not incorporated any of her findings into their "improve the workplace" efforts. Go figure.

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Here is a small list of nursing opportunities that doesn't involve bedside care:

Utilization Review Nurse

School Nurse

Parish Nurse

Managment of Care Nurse (Case Management) with insurance companies (United Healthcare, Atena, etc)

Clinical Liaison Nurse

Nurse Educator

Clinical Research Nurse

Wellness/Fitness Nurse

Nurse Auditor

Forsenic Nurse

and many, many others.

Hi wintergurl060 is this listing just for RN's or is it also for LPN's? Thank you in advance!!

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