experiencing burnout less than a year in

[francine79]

I will have been a nurse for a year in May and I must say that it has gone very well for me. I never experienced the horror stories that I have heard about a person's first year in nursing. However, the last 6 months of my personal life have been extremely stressful. A five and a half year relationship ended with the person I thought I was going to marry(now I thank God that I never did) that left me paying all the bills with one less income. I had this image that once I graduated from nursing school life was going to be awesome and nonstressful. Well, I was wrong. I love my job, I love what I do but I have definitely realized the truth that "you can't give to others if you aren't giving to yourself." The thing I loved about my job was knowing I was helping others and sharing that with my former boyfriend. Now that my life has become so much of what I never wanted I have become so irritable at work and I see that I am not "giving" to my patients what I need to. I'm merely going through the motions. Not to mention I have had some very trying patients and family as of late. I hate this feeling. I dread going to work because I just don't have the energy to give to my patients. I feel drained all the time. For those of you who have experienced being burned out, what have you done to help?

[clee1]

For those of you who have experienced being burned out, what have you done to help?

QUICK!!!! Before it gets worse... take a break!

If a vacation is out of the question, take as many days off in a row that you can afford, and go someplace fun and/or relaxing.

The beach, camping, etc for a few days can work wonders. If a trip just is not possible; stay home: lock the doors, turn off the lights and phones, get a little tipsy and relax!

Remember to HALT whenever you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. You do yourself, your coworkers, your employer, and most of all your patients a disservice when you work in a state such as you have described.

Take a break!

[pugmum]

QUICK!!!! Before it gets worse... take a break!

If a vacation is out of the question, take as many days off in a row that you can afford, and go someplace fun and/or relaxing.

The beach, camping, etc for a few days can work wonders. If a trip just is not possible; stay home: lock the doors, turn off the lights and phones, get a little tipsy and relax!

Remember to HALT whenever you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. You do yourself, your coworkers, your employer, and most of all your patients a disservice when you work in a state such as you have described.

Take a break!

...and find someone to talk to! You'll find that the feelings you are having are normal, and many of us feel this way at times. But we want to keep it 'at times', and not 'all the time'! Take time off, talk to others, get support from this forum, and BE GOOD to yourself!