Feeling burnt out & lost...

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So, I have been working at my first nursing job for about 10 months. I loved the job at first, but now I find myself HATING work. (BTW I work at a county jail) I feel like I am in constant fear of doing something wrong because I am so overwhelmed at times. I live in this constant fear of losing my license or doing something wrong that I stress myself to the max. We are going through a transition from being run by the county to being run by a private company - this is literally killing me. This past week I broke down and cried twice at work. I have been trying to look for outlets to move on, but I cannot get any call backs. I mean I have probably applied for 15 jobs and NOTHING! I am taking my last class this fall so that I can apply for a transition program to RN. I just feel like I am starting to get burnt out, I mean I dread going back to work. I know that this is probably to be expected with a transition, but seriously it has been absolute CHAOS at work. I do love some aspects of my work - like the people I work with, I have met some of the best people there, but like my husband says, you cant stay just because of the people. I know I am probably rambling, but maybe I just need some words of encouragement for me to push forward.

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I am sure that with any transition, there's chaos. However, look at this logically. Is it chaotic or unsafe? Are you able to complete what you need to do when you need to do it? If you try to keep focused on the job you need to do, and block out all of the other stuff, could it get better? Or at least manageable for you? As an aside, is there something that could happen that could make the whole enviroment better? In transitioning there is change--and sometimes by you "suggesting" that you have more staff could make a difference for you.

It is very hard to find a job for a number of LPN's. That you have a steady paycheck, especially when going back to school, could be important to you. From what I understand, there's a great deal of LTC situations that are no better or worse. The ratios are outrageous.

If you and your family is OK with you leaving your job before finding another, I would try home health, hospice, even an MD's office. But you need to think this through as opposed to jumping on emotional reasons only.

With all that being said, if the conditions are completely unsafe, and you are putting your license on the line every day, that is another situation entirely.

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I worked at a jail previously as well. I couldn't do it long, so kudos for making it 10 months!! I think part of the stress is the transition. What about your current situation makes you think you are putting your license on the line? I couldn't deal with the low number of guards vs inmates. I felt so unsafe.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I went to a prison one day as a agency nurse when I was an LPN. As soon as that first gate locked behind me, I was DONE!!! Never looked back. They wouldn't reopen that darn gate for anything!!! They kept telling me, "ma'am, you need to get down off the fence and THEN we will reopen the gate". I couldn't get outta the parking lot fast enough!!!!:smug:

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I went to a prison one day as a agency nurse when I was an LPN. As soon as that first gate locked behind me I was DONE!!! Never looked back. They wouldn't reopen that darn gate for anything!!! They kept telling me, "ma'am, you need to get down off the fence and THEN we will reopen the gate". I couldn't get outta the parking lot fast enough!!!!:smug:[/quote']

Yeah they frown on climbing fences.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Took me a minute, but I finally realized that! :roflmao:

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