For Burned out nurses who are leaving the profession...

Nurses General Nursing

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I just finished reading a thread about burned out nurses, many of whom talked about leaving the profession. Some of them had been nurses for years, some for only a very vshort while. For nurses who are thinking about leaving nursing entirely, why are you leaving the field rather than exploring other opportunities within it? Not judging or criticizing, just genuinely curious. I've met a lot of nurses and there seems to be so many options within the field. Why have you decided not to pursue other areas (ie change specialties/setting/place of employmt/level of pt interaction, etc)?

I have been a nurse now with my BSN, for a year and a half. This time has been spent in the ICU. The words baptized by fire come to mind.:angryfire While I have a great staff, manager, and mentors to back me up, the work is very demanding. The patient load is also very demanding. And then mid year $2.50 an hour for critical care gets cut. I make $21 an hour, working weekends, holidays, getting exposed to many germs, and diseases. Yelled at by family b/c I did not bring their comfort measures only mom her vitamin?? All the while I have a critically ill pt next door. All I can say is I can't wait to get my MSN and teach nursing. I have no clue how you other nurses spent 20 + years at the bedside, Id rather gouge my eyes out, oh and then for those who feel a real nurse has med surge experience... I think I'd leave the profession completely if forced to work med surge. Nursing school was great, but they forgot to tell you what nursing is really like in the real world. My goal as a nursing professor is to teach my students real world nursing and cut the stupid crap of case studies and nursing diagnosises out, b/c that stuff doesnt exist in the real world of things. :eek:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I could echo what the others listed above, but I want. I will simply add my situation, which is probably not common. I have a stressful, difficult and demanding job. I come home many nights in tears. I am belittled by patients and MD's, and pulled to my limits by all the demands placed on me. I have worked one hospital, and one floor since graduation. I love my co-workers, and our supervisors are God sends.

I am burnt out from dealing with drugseekers, over demanding families, mental patient for which we can't find placement, God complex MD's, ect, ect, ect. But I can handle it. I go into work knowing that I work with a group of woman that have my back, just like I have theirs. I know if I get in a situation I can't handle, my girls are right there with me. The experienced nurses are always willing to lend me a hand, or advice. If I can't get an IV (getting a little rarer theses days), one of my co-workers will. And no one makes me feel inferior because I am still learning.

I have been on these forum enough to realize that is not true every where. No matter how tired of the frequent fliers I am, I know what I am getting when I go to work. I know I can handle it. If I go elsewhere, I don't have the assurance and that scares the hell out of me. I am comfortable where I am, and I'm scared to go elsewhere.

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Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.

1. Belive in your inner senses and fellings..... they will tell you if the work place will drive you to burnout.

Burnout will be happen in time... is the impossibility to adapt your values to them values , is about YOU and THEM.

If you know good yourself you will know what you need from THEM and what you could offer to them. Be honest... may be they want somenthing else .... be TRUE with your self and with them!

New grads are not viciated of all bad in this world..are PURE NURSES (if they didn't worked already in healthcare world, lol)....so will not be about YOU ...at all!

A burnout of a new grad is about THEM!

A burnout of an old nurse is about ALL of them!

2. Find a good place to work... talk with people, go over the internet, search, research, go on governamental surveys, ratings, people testimoniese, don't lie yourself, telling that THIS is the place where I wish to be.... if is not and you will force yourself to be there.... at one point you will burnout, is a protection of your inner self.

Don't sell yourself CHEAP! I did it! A good balanced place to work decrease burnout chances.

3. Be sure and stuck on your good values! You became a nurse FOR PATIENTS! If not, and you became a nurse for any other reasons.... tell them at the hiring time.

You will burnout when your basic values learned and assimilated will be totally different from values promoted by your work place...you will burnout. I did it! You don't want to be there!

4. You need personal life... balance your life ! I didn't! If you don't consider yourself no one will consider you....respect your self if you want to be respected by others. Learn to say NO!

And YES you are the most valuable treasure, you are THE NURSE! And if you are enough wise to find the perfect place for you, you will be happy and you could help then to make a difference in nursing life!

Merry Christams and a happy joyfull, nonburnout carrier!

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Thank you. :yeah:

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

I recently underwent an interview and was hired. The main thing I was upfront about is that I want a job that will become a "part of my life" and not one that "becomes my life". I'm pass those days at my age. I've paid my dues over and over and over. If nursing doesnt change we can not expect any less then "burnout".

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.
I want a job that will become a "part of my life" and not one that "becomes my life". .

No kidding!

  • The constant mandatory inservices (which we get no contact hours for) and staff meetings that are always scheduled at horrible times! Last week I had to come in on my day off; at noon, and I had worked until 7am. To spend 20 minutes practicing turning patients because someone at some other hospital in the system wasn't turning their patients or something. Or work a 12 hour shift and then being required to run across campus to go to some meeting regarding our customer service scores.

  • Getting called at home every single day to come in and work because they're short then guilt tripped when you don't (like I sit by the phone by my Batphone waiting for the call to spring into action for a 12 hour shift!). I actually have their number blocked on my cellphone because I got so tired of it!

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Specializes in PCCN.
My goal as a nursing professor is to teach my students real world nursing and cut the stupid crap of case studies and nursing diagnosises out, b/c that stuff doesnt exist in the real world of things. :eek:

gosh, I wish I would have had an instructor that was that truthful with me, but the thing is, if your students find out thats how things really are, wont they be bailing? I know I would have- would have been easier to change majors.

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For those who have only been in nursing for a short while (ie

If so how did that experience compare to how things were once you actually became a nurse? Did the prior healthcare experience prepare you at all for the realities of this field?

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Hi,I really love healthcare but,I know that what you all say is true...Do you know of any other healthcare fields where the employees are treated better?When I take my patients to PT,the therapists always seem less stressed and happy with their jobs but I dont want to go to school for 6 more years...any suggestions?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Hi,I really love healthcare but,I know that what you all say is true...Do you know of any other healthcare fields where the employees are treated better?When I take my patients to PT,the therapists always seem less stressed and happy with their jobs but I dont want to go to school for 6 more years...any suggestions?

PTA's (PT assistants) only have to obtain an associates degree, like RN's. They make more money, have better hours, better working conditions, and the demand for PTAs is through the roof. I'm stronly considering it.

BTW, you have to take your patients to PT? Our therapist come to get the patients. Maybe that's why that are so carefree :p

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Specializes in PEDS.
PTA's (PT assistants) only have to obtain an associates degree, like RN's. They make more money, have better hours, better working conditions, and the demand for PTAs is through the roof. I'm stronly considering it.

BTW, you have to take your patients to PT? Our therapist come to get the patients. Maybe that's why that are so carefree :p

WOW are you serious about PTAs making more than RNs?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
WOW are you serious about PTAs making more than RNs?

At least where I work that is true. PT and PTAs are in high demand right now. There is a true shortage (not like the overly-hyped nursing shortage)

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