Er burn out? Stressed out?

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2014

It was when I found myself crying in the car park and having a panic attack at work I realised that I was over stressed and needed some time out.

A few questions I would ask

1. Can you identify anything specific thats getting to you? Patients, is it a particular type of patient.

2. Have a think about your stressors. Are these stressors something you can change?

3. If not, can you continue working in this job?

If no to number three I would suggest that you start thinking about a plan of action. What you need to do to reduce your stress. If that involves a new opportunity in employment than its better to start looking now than waiting until you are absolutely at the end of your rope.

I got to the stage of needing to take stress leave and was away for two weeks. If you can avoid it getting to that point I would recommend.

Guests · Dec 17, 2014

I found myself getting very frustrated with certain types of patients but I've now reframed things to be grateful for even the turkeys because each and every one of them are why the hospital needs as many of us as it does. I'm in it for the money and we need all the "customers" we can get.

Emergent, RN · Dec 17, 2014

That's right. Those frequent flyers, they are chinga ching ching, money in the bank. We play a role in society, and get paid well to do so. One of our assigned tasks is minding the drunk tank, among other things. Think of yourself as a shepherd, caring for all your flock, they are your wealth. Think of your patients as a bountiful crop with which you will feed your family. Oh boy, another person seeking drugs, remember, you are smarter than them, if you play the game you'll have them eating out of your hands, and hopefully they'll be repeat customers.

Yeah, the system is screwy, but it's still an interesting and fun way to make a living!

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Dec 17, 2014

Wow. Thank you all. I am just stressed and get irritated when they bring another hang nail to the room and someone else next door is dying. I will have to take a step back and regroup... I find myself taking my break in the Chapel at times. Thanks again

360jRN · Dec 17, 2014

Be thankful for the easy ones. One, it's easy charting - and I hate charting lol. Two, it's easy money - and I love money lol. Three, they're usually in and out - and like you I love moving the meat. Plus, I'd rather have a train wreck and 2 or 3 cupcakes rather than 3 chest pains or women with abdominal pain.

About 7 months ago I reached the point where I hated coming to work. Everything irritated me and if you weren't sick I was mad you were here. I was tired of working short handed and tired of coming into the same mess day in and day out. I went back to travel nursing and bam I felt energized again. Wasn't in a bad mood all the time, stress was gone for the most part, I was joking with patients again... I was my normal self. Sometimes a change of scenery will help is the moral of the story I guess. But whatever goes down I wish you the best of luck!

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Dec 17, 2014

Thank you 360

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Dec 17, 2014

Got to thinking.. Your right get paid either way to run my Hutt offer rest on it when appropriate. I'm in school for my BSN and often think of where it would take me.

?

MDMBSNRN · Dec 28, 2014

I know exactly what you mean by that. I did some time in a trauma center, and I always loved having the patient who was in the process of bleeding out from their multiple gunshot wounds beside the patient who complained of back pain for three months, was allergic to everything except Dilaudid, and became physically assaultive when they didn't get what they wanted. It can be incredibly frustrating, and the potential for burn out is there. Sometimes it helps me to try and find something within every patient to be compassionate and sympathetic about.

Yes, that patient is a drug seeker, and they are an addict. Yes, they are being violent towards me, and that is not acceptable. Yes, they do make me want to run screaming from the department at times. But how horrible must it be to be so dependent on drugs that you come to the ED, basically make up a complaint, and hope that you get what you want? How terrible is it to live in fear that you are going to go into potentially fatal withdrawals if the ED calls your bluff, and doesn't give you what you want? How embarrassing is it to live that kind of life?

Sometimes it's really hard for me to see past my anger and frustration, and I let things get to me. But you have to try and find a way to deal with it. If taking breaks in the chapel helps you, keep doing it. If you find that you're really overwhelmed and stressed, see if another nurse has time to relieve you long enough for you to take a five minute break. Do whatever you need in that five minutes. Sit in the bathroom in the dark, walk out of the department, go to the vending machines. Just take a minute to recollect yourself and breathe. You have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others!

ERnurse71, ADN, BSN · Dec 28, 2014

Thanks mdmrn23... You are right. There are a ton of frustrating aspects to this job in general. I guess I get tired of always being in a rush when u end up forgetting something it comes back to haunt you... And it has. ðŸ˜¦ but I do the best I can and hope it is good enough. There will always be something to critique I suppose. Thanks again for listening and your advice!

studentnursemon86 · Dec 28, 2014

I've been an ER tech for 2 years. I got this way as well. I was getting frustrated with patients, employees and the system in general.

I'm beginning to work on letting it go. I may still get upset, but I just let it roll off my back like a duck and do the best job I can.

Guests · Dec 31, 2014

Last rotation was a tough one... two different patients screaming at me, "F you, F you, F you" and all the other epithets, insults, and threats that they could come up with. I handled those incidents with equanimity.

What really burned was a staff member from another department who was being seen who started being rude and insulting. To that person I simply replied, "I'm sorry that our department and our staff are so deficient and so lacking." Later the person said, "I'm sorry for being rude." To that I finally replied honestly and said that I've become sick of being on the receiving end of unwarranted criticism and that I don't accept her apology.