Down time

[Morguein]

Does anyone here ever have any down time at work besides their lunch breaks? What I mean is do any of you ever have time to just kick back and talk to your coworkers without feeling like there's a ton of stuff still to be done? I feel like all I do is run run run all day long every day. I know it seems silly to be asking this as I know that nurses are notorious for not taking bathroom breaks or ever getting to sit down. I almost feel like nurses are abused...maybe not intentionally, but as a result of not having enough staff or having two very very sick patients who clearly should be one to ones, but can't because the department can't afford to have that extra nurse there. I often wonder if running around crazy all day everytime I'm at work is somehow going to physically, mentally, emotionally and maybe even spiritually harm me. I guess what I'm feeling these days is burnout. I really love working in the ICU. I love what we do. Its just that there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to do it all unless I'm running around the unit like a chicken with its head cut off. Its like, I love ice cream; but it wouldn't be enjoyable if I had to shove it all in my face in two seconds. Can anyone here relate?

[PeachyOrthoRN, RN]

I have to admit there are nights albeit very few and very very far between that yes my coworkers have a chance to sit down and catch up on what's been going on in each other lives. Yes, you're right that all the time it's just run run run at pretty soon we're beggin for the foley because we just don't have the time to go. I'll tell you though those nights are truly like heaven.

[babynursewannab]

I've recently noticed two outcomes of my working in critical care:

1) I can't stay on my diet my personal trainer is desperately trying to keep me on (yes...I need someone to kick my butt for motivation) because I have (as most of you do) 1/2 hour to leave my station, get to wherever the food is, heat the food (or buy it), eat it and then get back to my station. Sorry, I wanna be shoving food in the whole half-hour. Who knows when I'll get to eat again in that 12 hour period? Then, when I get home at 8am, I eat anything that is not tied down and I don't have to prepare then stumble to bed. (wake up and start over) I don't eat enough, much less good stuff.

2) I'm becoming emotially needy at home. After taking care of two patients who are on the verge of celestial transfers all night long without a break, I want to be taken care of when I get home. I don't want to be asked to do anything and I don't want to HAVE to do anything. Don't get me wrong, I DO everything...just not happily.

So I guess you could say it gets me emotionally, spiritually and health-wise not to have reguar breaks.

Good luck,

-Alyssa

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

What's down time?? :uhoh21:

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I've recently noticed two outcomes of my working in critical care:

1) I can't stay on my diet my personal trainer is desperately trying to keep me on (yes...I need someone to kick my butt for motivation) because I have (as most of you do) 1/2 hour to leave my station, get to wherever the food is, heat the food (or buy it), eat it and then get back to my station. Sorry, I wanna be shoving food in the whole half-hour. Who knows when I'll get to eat again in that 12 hour period? Then, when I get home at 8am, I eat anything that is not tied down and I don't have to prepare then stumble to bed. (wake up and start over) I don't eat enough, much less good stuff.

2) I'm becoming emotially needy at home. After taking care of two patients who are on the verge of celestial transfers all night long without a break, I want to be taken care of when I get home. I don't want to be asked to do anything and I don't want to HAVE to do anything. Don't get me wrong, I DO everything...just not happily.

So I guess you could say it gets me emotionally, spiritually and health-wise not to have reguar breaks.

Good luck,

-Alyssa

Alyssa,

I sorry to read this. Seems like your body is taking a nutritional toll

Hope something does change for the better. Good luck

[Morguein]

Thank you all for your input. Downtime is the time at work when you can sit and relax and take a breather and even talk to your coworkers to get to know them better. As far as the food thing, I can totally relate. I'm trying to eat healthier and better, but find it almost impossible to do. My goal was to eat 6 small healthy meals a day, but in the ICU you're lucky if you get one meal....and when you do, it might be 10 hours into your shift. I actually sneak and eat food on the unit when I can. I'll bring things like cheese, fruit, yogurt etc... and risk getting in trouble to eat 'em. But I figure, I'm just as important as my patients and I must take care of myself if I want to be functional at work. But there are many days when all I can do is stare at my lunch bag and never get a chance to sneak a snack from it. I feel like many of our patients should be one to ones, but they aren't. They seem to be getting sicker and sicker. Thanks again for all the input. I like reading about how others handle the same stresses as we do. If anyone else has any advice or would like to vent as I have, please share your experiences. Thanks!

[sway]

Jeez, you guys sound busy! I'd say that about a third of my nights have me running for 12 hours straight, another third are steady but leave me with time for small breaks now and then, and another third give me a good 2-3 hours of nothing to do. Usually when I have down time I study for my CCRN, do hospital education stuff, or help other RNs...so I usually manage to stay busy regardless. I guess it all just depends on how sick the patients are. In two years of ICU nursing in 2 hospitals, I don't think I've ever not had time for dinner or time to pee. Maybe I've just been lucky! Actually though, I like the busier nights better...although maybe I'd feel different if it was like that EVERY night. At least it makes the time go by fast, right?