I have been in bedside nursing for 12 years now, and I am wondering just how much longer my body can take it. When I get off work, my back and neck hurt, my legs/feet are swollen from not getting to sit down for more than a few minutes at a time, and I have chronic plantar fasciitis. I don't think I can do this for more than another year- and I absolutely love my job.
For those of you who have been doing this longer than I have: What is your secret? How have you been able to do this for so long without your body completely breaking down? Do you feel like nursing has aged you? I sure do. I'm only 38, and I feel like I'm about 70 when I get off work.
Hats off to all you old-timers, and those of you who have made it to retirement age. You have my deepest admiration and respect.
Thanks for this thrad at least i nowknow that aftr my 1yr experience in med-surg that NICU is a place i'll like to be in.Being in a place that fits you most is the way to go.If you being burned out in a place you are,try other place till you are ok with yourself.you really have to be fit yourself in other to care for a patient cos there is no how a patient can care for a patient.
Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.
I think diversity over the years has been my life saver. I have chronic back pain and problems but it was worse at the bedside. Different depts over the years have eased some problems....I've worked peds, med-surg, detox, home health and now I work in education. Even with a desk job I still suffer from the back pain but NSAIDS seem to take care of most of it. I remember how my legs used to ache after running all day on Med-Surg. At least now most of my aches are in one spot. It's a tough field. Hope you find some comfort.
Welcome to Allnurses, NICUnursey- and thanks for the tips. I didn't think about the NICU. How hard is the transition from adult ICU to NICU? Peds is one area that I have not worked in.
Hey Baptized_By_Fire
I've been a nurse 24 years; 5 medsurg, 19 NICU. I was totally burning out on nursing before the transition. Mentally, not even physically because I must've been about 24 yrs old when I made the change. But the transition is not hard if you have a good orientation. I had no peds experience either. It was like a new world and it still is exciting and fun and fatiguing and hard and fustrating just like other areas. But I love the babies and I love the parents and that makes easier to deal with the other stuff. I also don't schedule more than 2 days in a row. I spilt most weekend so that I can make church Sat night or Sun morning. I take vacation. I'm now in a position that I only do overtime if I want to not because of survial. Good Luck
Hi, I'm new here also, and have been discussing this exact thing recently.
I worked 3 12's in a row for several years and developed painful bunions.(I wear Crocs now, and cannot wear dress shoes without wincing!)
Now I work 2 double shifts, and I ache all over--this is recent for me. I was always in good health, have a lot of energy, usually, but only 14 yrs of nursing has really affected me, physically.(mentally too)
I work in a skilled nursing facility and the job is constant running, so I am considering switching to something less physically demanding. As much as I hate a "desk" job, there's so much paperwork in nursing anyway, that maybe it won't matter? I've been considering home health--one patient at a time, no running up and down the corridors,lifting as many pts, moving equipment etc...bottom line---I feel OLD!
I'm not sure how I've lasted this long, and I'm not so sure I can last much longer. I had developed PF, and it lasted well over a year; progressed to the point I could barely stand, much less walk. I figured that was the end of my career as a bedside nurse. I found a site online with stretching and exercises to help relieve the symptoms, and it has really helped. Yeah, my feet still hurt, but there's pain and then there's plantar fasciitis. Yow.
Changing specialties is one stategy. I started in sub-acute (med without the surg), switched to psych, and after a long stretch there transitioned to postpartum, which I really enjoy.
I have the luxury of being able to work part-time. We could use the extra money (who couldn't), but it's just not worth the wear-and-tear on me physically. I do either a .5 or .6 FTE. Besides the easier schedule, the flexibility allows dh and me to live at less than break-neck pace and enjoy our time together. That alone is rejuvenating. So is the fact that I now work 8-hour shifts. Used to do 12s and I still could. It just takes longer now to recover afterward.
I wear Crocs or clones and have had a much easier time with them than I ever did with regular nursing shoes or athletic shoes.
DH and I both work night shift. We do this by choice and have done so for years. That isn't for everyone, but it works for us. We live in a parallel universe that is far less stressful and crowded. Lately, with gas prices so high, we've been car-pooling and the drive time has been a nice chance to talk and plan.
We try to live modestly (although he fishes and I buy books). We drive older cars that he can do some maintenance and repair work on. We buy things on sale and grow some veggies. We don't drink (except the occasional glass of wine) or smoke. Our idea of gambling is the bingo tent at a festival. We take a real vacation (as opposed to just visiting with relatives) every three or four years.
We try to keep the stress level low and the satisfaction level high by concentrating on simple pleasures, nurturing our marriage, enjoying our family, and being thankful for all we have.
One thing we both do is leave work at work. Now and then, one of us will have a bad time on the job. We come home, vent, pray, brainstorm ideas, and let it go. This has not always been easy, but it has worked and is now a habit.
Ratcheting down the agitation in your spirit counts for much in the long term survival game. Refusing to take things personally (even if they are meant that way) is a huge step in avoiding tension. Cultivating a spiritual approach to just about anything helps to sort out what's really important. Gratitude sweetens relationships and experiences.
Eating right (still needs improvement in my life) and getting enough sleep can't be overrated. So many times, the people I hear bemoaning ill health and high stress levels, expect their poor bodies to perfom well despite improper treatment. Five hours of sleep is rarely enough. Especially when that's all you get, night after night. It's amazing what a good chunk of sleep can do.
Ditto for taking a walk, taking time to laugh, getting or giving a massage, baking a loaf of bread, or talking with a friend. Don't ever become too old to play.
The more taxing your job, the more essential the down-time measures are in making sure you refill the well.
In many ways, we have chosen to "lower the bar," reducing expectations to a manageable level, and striking a balance between what we want and what we can reasonably afford in money, time, effort, and energy. Once in a great while, I have a twinge of "new car envy," but it passes pretty quickly when I hear the going rate for car payments and the 6-7 year term of the loan.
The nicest thing about living outside of the fast lane is that we can breathe.
I hope I'll be able to continue in my current job for some time to come. It's an absolute joy to care for young families and new babies. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I have a daughter who works in LTC. She calls the old people her babies and tucks them in at night with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. We both love what we're doing. That's such a blessing.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
I'm not sure how I've lasted this long, and I'm not so sure I can last much longer. I had developed PF, and it lasted well over a year; progressed to the point I could barely stand, much less walk. I figured that was the end of my career as a bedside nurse. I found a site online with stretching and exercises to help relieve the symptoms, and it has really helped. Yeah, my feet still hurt, but there's pain and then there's plantar fasciitis. Yow.
Yes- I have bought tape, ibuprofen cream, the pro-stretch, a night splint, and arch supports from heelspurs.com. I have bought expensive shoes, too. All have worked for a while, but it is now at the point that I can barely walk. I'm limping through work, and my foot hurts all night long now. It's starting to affect my other foot and my back now, too.
It sucks, but I don't think I can start back at the gym until I get the foot taken care of. Ugh.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
We take a real vacation (as opposed to just visiting with relatives) every three or four years.
Ditto for taking a walk, taking time to laugh, getting or giving a massage, baking a loaf of bread, or talking with a friend. Don't ever become too old to play.
Tazzi- I did change specialties from ER to ICU in January, and I thought it would be different, but I still run my tail off. I had looked into home health in my area, but they don't pay as well, and a friend of mine who works in home health says she's being forced to do lots of OT without time and a half. No way am I getting into that mess in my town. Otherwise, I would love to do something like that. 1 patient at a time sounds great!
ER to ICU is not that drastic a change! You're exchanging a pt in pieces to one who's been glued back together, but they're both critical care.
Of course home health pays less, any job outside a hospital is going to pay less. The deciding factor is "Is my sanity worth the cut in pay?" Your friend's experience with OT is not the norm, and if she's hourly then I think she has grounds for a conversation with the labor department. If there is more than one agency in your area, you should look into it.
Yes- I have bought tape, ibuprofen cream, the pro-stretch, a night splint, and arch supports from heelspurs.com. I have bought expensive shoes, too. All have worked for a while, but it is now at the point that I can barely walk. I'm limping through work, and my foot hurts all night long now. It's starting to affect my other foot and my back now, too.
It sucks, but I don't think I can start back at the gym until I get the foot taken care of. Ugh.
I tried the exercises on this site, and it helped. I can certainly feel the difference, and also can tell when I get lax in doing them. I'm sure I'll always have problems, but at least it's bearable and I don't have to wake up 15 minutes early in order to be able to stand and walk away from the bed.
ER to ICU is not that drastic a change! You're exchanging a pt in pieces to one who's been glued back together, but they're both critical care.
I just have to tell you Tazzi, I physically LOLed at that statement. You are right though - and sometimes the glue is not sticking too well at all.
I can definitely say I run my butt off at work, and butt is about to turn 52 years old. Nursing is a second career for me and I underestimated the physical toll on the body.
This is a very interesting thread for me and I salute you oldies for hanging in this long! My feet are OK, legs are OK, BUT THE LIFTING OF THE DEAD WEIGHT IS A HUGE PROBLEM! The repositioning Q2hr of vented patients is my undoing.....no nursing assistant, no orderlies. We just have to pull another RN to get help. No lifts....what's a girl to do?
It's a joke when you are required to only lift 50 lbs as the limit of the job. What are you supposed to do with a 500 lb pt that takes every nurse in the unit to help move? Ridiculous - and while you helping someone else, in the meantime your Levophed has air in the line and you can't hear the alarm and you walk back to check and the pt is near dead from hypotension. That little number has happened to me twice in about a year and a half.
OK, vent over. Thanks for listening. I think I have to find an ICU that has a lift team.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
ER to ICU is not that drastic a change! You're exchanging a pt in pieces to one who's been glued back together, but they're both critical care.
Of course home health pays less, any job outside a hospital is going to pay less. The deciding factor is "Is my sanity worth the cut in pay?" Your friend's experience with OT is not the norm, and if she's hourly then I think she has grounds for a conversation with the labor department. If there is more than one agency in your area, you should look into it.
LOL...you're right, Tazzi. I have always worked in high-adrenaline areas. I'm not so sure I know any other way . I never thought about that before. When I was younger, it worked well for me. I will research the local HH agencies and the NICU in my current facility.
My friend is salary, so that's why she gets treated the way she does, IMO.
. I never thought about that before. When I was younger, it worked well for me. I will research the local HH agencies and the NICU in my current facility.
azor
244 Posts
Thanks for this thrad at least i nowknow that aftr my 1yr experience in med-surg that NICU is a place i'll like to be in.Being in a place that fits you most is the way to go.If you being burned out in a place you are,try other place till you are ok with yourself.you really have to be fit yourself in other to care for a patient cos there is no how a patient can care for a patient.
Azor