Five Ways to Reignite Your Passion For Nursing

Melissa Mills, BSN

Going to work should not be dreadful. However, for many nurses, the stress, burnout, and culture can sometimes make it downright painful to get dressed and head to work. After days, weeks, months, or even years of these types of feelings, you might lose the love you once felt for the profession.

If you're going through this, you must remember that you are not alone and that these feelings are normal. If they hang around for a few days or a month, it's probably not too concerning. But, any longer than that and you may need to start looking at strategies to help you bounce back and reignite the passion you once felt for your career. Here are a few of my favorite things you can do to get back on track.

Take Time Off

Americans let 768 million vacation days go unused in 2018. This equals billions of dollars in lost benefits and often means that workers aren't getting the rest, relaxation, and restoration they need. Unfortunately feeling like you've lost your passion for your work can sometimes be a double-edged sword. You feel burnout, so you keep working with the hopes of finding something that will reignite the passion you once felt. Unfortunately, it often makes the situation worse.

If you're feeling disconnected from work, talk to your manager or supervisor about scheduling in a few "mental health" days. Don't plan any major events on these days, instead book time doing something you love. Or, you may want to make an appointment to get a massage, pedicure, or other restorative treatment.

Treat Symptoms of Burnout

Burnout is a challenging condition. If you start feeling like every day is a bad day or you're exhausted all the time, you might be dealing with burnout. Other symptoms to watch for include:

Feeling worthless or hopeless
Feeling bored or overwhelmed
Feeling under-appreciated
Exhaustion
Frequent illness
Headaches or muscle pain
Change in sleep patterns
Change in appetite

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of burnout, you need to get the treatment you need. Talk to those around you about how you are feeling. If you have a workplace mentor or a boss you trust, start there. They may have noticed these changes, too and can offer invaluable feedback. You should also try to increase your connection with your coworkers, but avoid interactions with negative individuals. You might also need to look for activities outside of work that can increase your feelings of meaningfulness and purpose.

Look for a New Specialty

Sometimes feeling overwhelmed and unhappy can be a sign that it's time for a change. If you work in a specialty like hospice, oncology, or other high-acuity areas, you may need to consider looking for a new area of nursing to try. Not only can a change decrease your level of stress, but it can also help you find your passion through learning about new areas you never thought about before.

Work With a Coach or Mentor

Reaching out to another nurse who has maybe experienced these same feelings can be helpful. If you have a mentor, start there. If not, it might be a good idea to hire a career coach who is also a nurse. You can discuss your feelings with them and also ask them for ideas of other areas of nursing that could be a good fit with your background.

Take Care of Yourself

It seems that self-care, getting plenty of rest, and eating a well-balanced diet is a good answer to just about any problems we have in life. And, feeling burnout and drained at work isn't any different. Carve out time to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-level activity each day. Find a diet that is low in carbohydrates, junk food, and sugary foods. You might want to consider one that is plant-based or at least has high amounts of fruits and vegetables. Finally, make sure you are getting eight hours of sleep every night.

Getting Back on Track

Remembering your passion for nursing can be challenging when you are in the midst of burnout and other feelings of disconnection from your work. You can use these ideas, but there are also many other ways to reconnect with your passion for the art of nursing, it just takes a little work and time.

Have you ever experienced burnout or "fell out of love" with nursing? What helped you get back on track?