Does anyone else get emotionally exhausted from this job?

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I don't find my job too physically tiring at all but I am mentally drained by the end of the day. I find myself counting down to every day off, every holiday break, etc because I need it so bad. I'm sure it doesn't help that we have a higher percentage of kids living in poverty than not. I never seem to have energy to do anything fun either unless we happen to have a 3 day weekend. I spend so much time on the weekends catching up on housework and taking care of my own family and kids I don't have much time left over for anything extra. Does anyone else feel that way?

Specializes in School Nursing.
17 hours ago, TriciaJ said:

Is there an administrative higher-up you could appeal to, so this person isn't constantly putting you between a rock and a hard place? She needs to start seeing the big picture.

I wish there was. Our Principal doesn't want to be involved with anything, but he's leaving, so I am hoping that his replacement shows some respect towards the clinic and our responsibilities.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

I feel the same way. I am a serious introvert, and I have an assistant who never stops talking. My mom and husband don't understand how necessary it is for me to have "down time" in order to function. I don't mind talking to my mom on the phone when I am on my way home from work, but once I get home, I just want to sit in silence. My mom gets offended when I don't answer the phone if she calls once I get home, and my husband loves to call me and chat on his hour-long drive home. I am not a very good conversationalist at that point, and making small talk can be painful.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
3 hours ago, iggywench said:

I feel the same way. I am a serious introvert, and I have an assistant who never stops talking. My mom and husband don't understand how necessary it is for me to have "down time" in order to function. I don't mind talking to my mom on the phone when I am on my way home from work, but once I get home, I just want to sit in silence. My mom gets offended when I don't answer the phone if she calls once I get home, and my husband loves to call me and chat on his hour-long drive home. I am not a very good conversationalist at that point, and making small talk can be painful.

I thought it was just me! I make my calls on the way home. When someone calls after I get home I can barely pay attention (and I am so broke).

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Hematology Oncology, School Nurse.

Yesss! So much validation in this thread! I love it!

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After dealing with people, talking with people, on the phone with people, solving peoples problems all shift long. NOPE. Don't want to talk to people when I get home. My people time is DONE.

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1. The only nurse that practices medicine is an APRN--it's not semantics its based on a theory that is entirely different than medicine. Not even Drs understand that we are not medical and that nursing is different.


As we all know a physician's order is not an order unless it is signed. I'm not sure where that is written and I know my statutes pretty well. Basically what I'm saying she won't believe you until you can show it to her in writing. Trying to work in a job where you are not supported must suck the life out of you. The law is the law and the first time you brake it...the principal needs to be referred to the board of nursing in your state or maybe you can have the conversation with the board of nursing and get it in writing so that the principal knows. Unfortunately, someone like that will not change their mind no matter. There is no other profession that I know of that hold their licensees to the standard that nursing does.

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time.

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You are not alone, there are many people out there suffering from emotional exhaustion. It is common in nursing in all specialties.

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10 hours ago, the4ofus said:

You are not alone, there are many people out there suffering from emotional exhaustion. It is common in nursing in all specialties.

Part of it is the 12 hour shifts, I read of a study done showing causes of depression, etc. Night shift nurses also have higher rates of spontaneous abortion. They came up with those shifts due to staffing, you can see how that has help?

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
On 3/29/2019 at 9:33 AM, Forest2 said:

Part of it is the 12 hour shifts, I read of a study done showing causes of depression, etc. Night shift nurses also have higher rates of spontaneous abortion. They came up with those shifts due to staffing, you can see how that has help?

This is a school nursing forum, 12 hour shifts are not an issue. The second part of your statement is false. I came into nursing in 1987, when 12 hour shifts were starting because nurses did not want to work 5 days, but wanted the income. Twelve hour shifts were much harder to cover for call outs and most places demanded you have a partner to cover the day, you had to mirror each other's schedule.

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Specializes in kids.

I just mailed sympathy cards to the families of 2 former students who died last week. Crazy, sad and tragic story. I never in a million years would have thought that that writing these notes would be, almost commonplace...I have a running list of kids I have known that died, either as a student or a former student. The list is varied and well over #20.

Cancer, overdose, fire, car accidents, suicide, medical conditions, in no particular order.

Granted I have been here 25 years, but still...

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Yep! Me too!

Running helps me significantly. I put in my earbuds, focus on myself, and drown out the world. I have noticed that if I can get up early enough in the morning to run or workout, my whole outlook on the day is significantly more optimistic and I am less drained at the end of the day.

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23 minutes ago, NutmeggeRN said:

I just mailed sympathy cards to the families of 2 former students who died last week. Crazy, sad and tragic story. I never in a million years would have thought that that writing these notes would be, almost commonplace...I have a running list of kids I have known that died, either as a student or a former student. The list is varied and well over #20.

Cancer, overdose, fire, car accidents, suicide, medical conditions, in no particular order.

Granted I have been here 25 years, but still...

I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how difficult that has been. Today marks the 4th anniversary of my first pediatric patient death (I worked home health), and I think about all of those sweet children who have passed so often. Sympathy cards to parents is the card section everyone wishes didn't have to exist.

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