Early burn out?

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi guys, I guess I just need some advice for my situation. 

I am a newer nurse, I have been working as a nurse for 13 months now. I worked the first 5 months on a general med-surg floor at one hospital, and then quit during my new grad residency because I was feeling depressed and overwhelmed with work. I worked day shift with a 1:6 ratio, and felt I was unable to provide good patient care. The assignments were not split fairly, there were times I'd discharge all of my patients and get all new admissions in the same shift. They tried floating me to another unit my second week off of orientation. I left work with pre and post shift anxiety. There were also some bullies on the unit so I didn't feel supported. I was not content with the work I was doing, I never really had a passion for med-surg but I knew that's where new grads got hired. After I quit, I struggled to find another job for four months. I applied literally everywhere, outpatient, inpatient, LTC/SNF, corrections, etc. Eventually I got hired at a different hospital and I've been there for 8 months now. It's another med-surg unit but specialized neuro/trauma. I thought I'd enjoy the neuro/trauma specialty since I've always been more interested in critical care nursing and thought that would be a good bridge to the ICU or ED. However, now I'm just feeling exhausted altogether and thinking about leaving the hospital. The role I'm in now is night shift, and the acuity on our floor is pretty high. It feels more like an ICU step-down but our ratio on nights is 1:5 or 1:6. Again, I'm feeling overworked and fatigued 24/7. I miss spending the holidays with my family, I'm missing out on weekend events. I sleep away all of my days off. I'm starting to think hospital nursing isn't worth it? 

I just feel really unhappy. I'm not getting the satisfaction I thought I would from my career. I'm going to try to apply elsewhere in an ICU or ED and hopefully that fixes where I'm lacking passion for my job. On a med-surg floor, I just feel like a pill pusher and servant. 


I'm concerned I won't even be a good candidate for a role change since my resume shows I haven't even completed one year at one facility. It's just so frustrating that in order to get into these specialty areas, med-surg experience is required. I just feel so burnt out already.

I'm also wondering if maybe I should just seek a position outpatient. Maybe bedside/hospital nursing just isn't for me. I want to help people but I don't want to sacrifice my wellbeing, weekends, holidays, health, and time with my family and friends. I really care about a good work life balance.

I just feel so stuck, and being a newer nurse in this predicament, I feel like I'm failing. Does anyone have any advice for me or even relate to how I'm feeling?

+ Join the Discussion