Burnt out

Farawyn · Nov 17, 2015

Has anyone successfully dealt with burn out? I still love patient care. The absolute ridiculousness of some of the policies has me jaded. I dread going to work because there is something new every day! The last straw was being written up for not doing hourly rounds during a 5 hour rapid response that turned into a code (no icu beds available to transfer to). I'm seriously ready to leave nursing all together, bagging groceries would be better

I always said I was going to leave nursing and work in Starbucks.

Yet, here I am.

Mental health day? Vacay?

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

Has anyone successfully dealt with burn out? I still love patient care. The absolute ridiculousness of some of the policies has me jaded. I dread going to work because there is something new every day! The last straw was being written up for not doing hourly rounds during a 5 hour rapid response that turned into a code (no icu beds available to transfer to). I'm seriously ready to leave nursing all together, bagging groceries would be better

When I got burned out after years in the ICU, I said I'd rather flip burgers.

After a good break, I began to miss it. I didn't want to go back to ICU (my awesome unit manager had left by then, the incredible CEO had also left and things weren't the same with respect to nurse support), so I went PRN to 2 very different fields.

You might just need a change of specialty.

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2015

Maybe find a new place to work? If management can't understand why you couldn't do hourly rounds during a rapid response then you might not want to work there. At my hospital of a patient is that critical and there are no beds in the ICU we send them to the ED. I probably would have asked my manager what do they plan to do to prevent this from happening again. It's not your fault.

ScrappytheCoco · Nov 17, 2015

I worked myself to death and in the high stress specialties I do it really got me bitter and burnt out quick. I quit my full time and went per diem with two agencies and I looooove it. Way less managerial BS, not in any one place long enough for co-worker drama, and if I'm pooped and don't feel like working I don't have to. Hugs and hope you find something that works for you.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 18, 2015

Why don't you write up management for lack of safety awareness and reasonable expectations as evidenced by them writing you up for not doing hourly rounds while aware that you had a critical patient?

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2015

So who was watching the other patients? Just because there is an RR or a code doesn't mean everyone else gets ignored. Where was your support?

Hippy chick · Nov 18, 2015

Our census was really low that night. 2 nurses and a tech for 11 patients

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Nov 18, 2015

I was burned out after ten years, this from someone who stated on an application that I don't deal with stress at work because I feel no stress at work. I saw the change in health care coming in the 90's WAY before others and was told to change or leave. I realized at that point that my attitude was not helping my patients. I started working 100% night shift, away from the drama. I have been on the same floor for 27 years, and I am constantly focusing on my patients. Maybe an attitude that you will outlast policy, administrators, or other irritatants may give you the fortitude to deal with those issues. I also just started doing school nursing which has totally reenergized my acute care job. A change of focus is a great coping mechanism. Good luck, hope you go back to feel that love you once had for nursing, today there is no job I would rather do and tomorrow, if I were able to not work, I would do my school nurse gig voluntarily.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2015

Our census was really low that night. 2 nurses and a tech for 11 patients

No House Supervisor? No other staff in the entire hospital? *Somebody* should be holding down the fort with the other patients- it doesn't have to be *you* per se, if you're tied up with a critical patient.

I don't think your being written up was necessarily just. I'm just saying that if *nobody* checked on the other patients for that entire five hours, that is not okay.

I'm sorry if you got unfairly written up. What should have happened was to analyze what happened that the other patients did not receive care, and make a plan to prevent this in the future. I hate punitive management! Creative problem solving to improve patient care and support staff in performing their duties is a far superior approach, IMO. This makes happier, more professionally satisfied staff, which patients do notice, and makes them feel better about being in your hospital. It's a win-win. I'm sorry your management hasn't caught on to that.

Sorry, this is one of my pet peeves. I'll stop ranting now.

CryssyD · Nov 18, 2015

Maybe the tech was watching for new fires to stamp out. Stuff happens.

When one of my toddler patients spiked a 105 fever and needed a full septic workup and an IV, and then his roommate lost her heartbeat (repaired tet), who would have dared to write me up for not rounding on my other patients? Can't believe they did you like that. Some days I don't know what--or if--the brass is thinking.

I know the feeling of burnout. I went through a phase where almost everything sounded better than nursing, including "exotic dancer" and "phone actress" (the super-friendly kind).

I took a little time off, and it went away. Distance can make the heart grow fonder, sometimes.

Hope it gets better.:)

Hippy chick · Nov 18, 2015

The tech was checking in on the patients, answering call lights, etc. but didn't document it. 2 of our nurses were floated to other floors, house sup said no to getting anyone back to help. I was left with someone that graduated in May, and has been off orientation for 3 weeks. It really makes me sad. My unit had the lowest turnover for years. Our patients loved coming to our unit. Then the manager was fired for suggesting that an idea our cno had needed to be revisited before implementing. She was told that the organization didn't need her negativity. So, someone with 2 years of nursing experience was promoted to her position. I've been trying to stick it out. But, I think it is time to follow the mass exodus.