feeling burned out

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Hello all,

Lately I have been feeling a bit burned out. Sad thing is I've only been a nurse for 3 1/2yrs. I work at a hospital on a 21 bed pediatric unit and I love working there when it's actually pediatric pts I'm caring for. We are required to take overflow adult pts, lately more frequently since summer we see less kiddos. Some of the adults we get are not always appropriate for our floor, but when we complain about this nothing happens. A lot of times we hear "well any nurse is better than no nurse," really?! That doesn't make me feel better, I worked hard for my license and would like to keep it!! And if these pts aren't coming to our floor we are floating to adult med surg units. Everything is about budget budget budget now too so there's many a nights when we work without staff that we should have. Any words of encouragement, do I just need a new place of scenery?:confused:

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I've read stats that say the average nurse burns out at 5 years in....now you know why. Maybe try a different field like Occupational Health Nursing, or Public Health or telephone triage.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I don't know where you live, but if you live in a city with a children's hospital you could try to get a job there.

I'm not a pediatric nurse but I feel burned out and frustrated myself over the constant psyche, dementia and detoxing patients we get and we're supposed to be a cardiac tele stepdown unit. You'd never know it by the patients we get. Dealing with the constant drama, manipulation, confusion, and violent tendencies of these people drives you crazy.

I feel like I need a tranquilizer just to handle them who also are in serious need of tranquilizers. Add to it the lack of staff on the night shift when they are even more likely to act up and management mad when you are able to get a sitter to babysit them. It's impossible to keep them in their beds safe, not falling or pulling out their IV's without more supervision and staff.

I joke we need a security guard available 24/7 for our unit alone, but sadly its not a joke. We really do! We have a psyche floor, but they conveniently refuse to take these patients including the detox ones.

Then you get called asking you to work on your days off. I'm sorry I just can't bear to work any extra, knowing it's a madhouse, lunatic fringe style. Don't get me wrong, I could surely use the extra money, but my sanity and peace of mind can't take it!

The hospital wants to force us to work on call on our days off so we can be there at their beck and call. I want to work less, not more! Sometimes when I'm at work with these difficult patients I just want to cry. I'm just watching the clock to when I can get out and escape from them and dreading the next time I have to work.

If only things would go back to the way it used to be! Not the bedlam it is today!

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Specializes in Ortho and Tele med/surg.

Ha ha ha, I have only been a nurse for a year and a half and I'm already burned out. This is completely normal due to the nature of our job. Sounds like it is time to move on. Take some time for yourself if you can afford to do that and seek employment else where. Unfortunately, good nursing job are hard to come by these days. Good luck to you.

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Sorry to hear about the burn out Nite Owl! I completely understand how that goes.I agree with Bugsy2902, that maybe you should seek another pediatric type nursing position, since you expressed that you do not feel burned out when you work with that population. Some of the good advice regarding burnoout that I gleaned over the years were to: cut back your hours (if you can afford it), make sure you get your meal breaks at work and that you get vacation time every so often. You could try a different shift or specialty, too. I feel for you and for others working the floors. I'm presently working med/surg and it's so not my cup of tea! The chaos and drama, the breakneck pace and expectations are just so exhausting! I literally dread going in every shift. I feel pulled in a million directions the second I hit the floor. Acute care nursing can be so demanding. So, my advice would be to look around and see what's out there. I am currently "burned out" now, and am changing specialties, so I am hoping this will breathe some wind into my sails. I hope the same for you! Go with whatever your gut instinct tells you. If you like Peds, then follow your heart! Good luck and hope you feel better soon. :redbeathe

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Specializes in LTC.

I agree with other posts. A couple of months ago, I was feeling very burned out. I discovered that by taking a lunch break really helped me. It doesn't make a difference If I have to stay over because i took one, it still helps. Also scheduling three days off in a row in a month helped too. I usually only schedule two. Of course, this only works with self-scheduling.

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Thanks everyone for your input! It's nice to know that others feel the same way, although it's a little sad at the same time. People wonder why there is a nursing shortage!? Oh how I long for that fresh out of nursing school feeling, like I could take on the world. I'm going to look into some different options as far as scheduling maybe that will help me.

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If only things would go back to the way it used to be! Not the bedlam it is today!

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, faith looks up. This is not the best mind-set. Days of long ago are just that, long ago. We must strive to meet with current challenges. Every problem has a possibility in it.

OP, don't think burn out, think a chance to grow and diversify.:yeah::up:

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