Frustrated, Tired, and Burned Out

[KnightRN22]

Hi everyone,

First post being on the site. I just want to say thank you to my fellow nurses for being open, honest, and extremely helpful with posts and comments. This site really helped inspire me during nursing school and my current job.

As you can see from the title, I'm unsure of what to do with my current position. I have been an RN now for 11 months. I was a nurse's aide/nurse technician for a year while I was in nursing school. I graduated with a BSN. Anyway, I transitioned from a nurse's aide/nurse technician to a nurse on the same unit which is a medical surgical unit. I'm fed up with the way that myself and other coworkers are being treated. I feel burnt out and frustrated with my current position. I feel that my unit is understaffed most nights because nurse are expected to handle a full patient load with 6 patients to 1 nurse. I work on a 40 bed unit where we may have only 1 tech most nights and sometimes even no tech. Nurses are expected to do vital signs, baths, turn patients, blood glucose checks, answer call lights, bathroom assists, and medication passes. I understand all of the previously mentioned activities are a nurse's job and that some of these can be delegated to the tech. The problem is that there are other nurses that need the tech as well so most of the activities don't get performed on time. I feel that we are being forced to take on more and more tasks because they do not want to adequately staff the unit.

For example, last night, the were 5 nurses on the unit with all of us having the maximum patient load of 6 patients. There was NO tech. The call lights were going off constantly and we also had a patient fall on the unit. This is our 3rd fall in the last 2 weeks. I'm concerned about the safety of the patients and the wellbeing of the staff. Most staff members have complained about how they feel burned out and do not like coming to work. Unfortunately, I am in the same boat. I feel overworked and that I am just a number. I feel as if staff opinions are not taken as seriously as they should be. I would like to ask a few questions to my fellow nurses because I am all ears!!!

I am trying to move on from this unit but I don't want to leave before I have secured another job. I'm currently interested in the emergency department. How have you dealt with burnout? How did you handle this feeling until you found a new position? What tips do you have that would help me land another position? Er nurses- What are some things that stand out to you when you are hiring experience nurses? What kind of certifications are you looking for?

I am BLS, ACLS, and PALS certified. I am currently working on becoming port certified. I am in a nurse practice council for my unit that helps develop new ideas to improve the unit. I have already had an idea implemented. The only experience that I have under my belt is medical surgical. I was also a nurse tech before finishing school.

Thank you so much again for reading my post. Sorry that it turned into more of a rant but the shift I had last night was one of my worst. I've finally had enough. Looking to move forward in my nursing career:)

[llg, PhD, RN]

It sounds to me as if you have done "all the right things" career-wise. So give yourself a proverbial "pat on the back" for having done so well. Now you need to move to the next phase of your career and learn to take care of yourself and live a happy life with your career.

Know that your current job situation is temporary -- if you want it to be. You should be well on your way to being qualified for a lot of jobs that require experience. You just have to survive while your find the right fit for you.

Have you saved up any vacation time? Now might be a good time to use a little. Are you working over-time? If so, can you cut back on it? Look at your work/life balance and find some "me time" if needed. Make sure you do something fun each week.

Can you have some fun at work? Can you have a pot luck some name with your colleagues ... or turn your breaks into times to smile and laugh rather sit around and b**** to each other? Have some fun contests? etc. Even though you might be outrageously busy, it helps to smile with your co-workers to help you all get through it together.

Are you getting enough sleep? eating right? exercising? You'd be surprised how much these sorts of things can boost your mood and give you a greater ability to cope with work stress.

Pamper yourself physically and psychologically for a while as you figure out your next career move. Maybe be a little less "hard-charging" and a little more laid back as you coast a little for a couple of weeks. Then you will ready and fresh to start your next job -- or you might surprise yourself and find that you can tolerate your current job for a while longer than you thought. You've been pushing yourself to graduate while working, transitioning to the RN role, getting certifications, serving on a committee and implementing a project as a new nurse, etc. Give yourself a little time to coast and not push so hard for a couple of weeks while you take care of yourself.

[freckles23]

I feel your pain. Our unit has 35 beds and usually staffed with only 4 nurses on nightsso that means we can start with anywhere from 5 patients and get admissions all night long or have a max of 9 patients, which was the other night. I felt completely drained by the time 11pm hit and was so burnt out and fed up and that was only 4 hrs into the shift. I feel there is no staff appreciation from the managers and they just have their whip telling us to work harder and not forget things and give meds on time. Also the aides are difficult to work with because you need to beg them for **** they know they need to do like weights, water, pm care. I completely understand where you are coming from and I cant wait to get my experience and run for the hills.

[KnightRN22]

Unfortunately I can't take a vacation, our schedule is already completed through the end of November. I normally work three shifts in a row but starting this coming week, my shifts will be spaced out so that should help with the frustration. I try to take care of myself as much as possible but sometimes I slip up with exercise and healthy food choices.

And don't get me wrong, my coworkers are amazing. They are there to help out when the patient load becomes to much or when I'm busy with a new admit and my other patient is calling for pain meds. One of the main reasons I've stayed on my unit is because of my coworkers. They are always there to lend an ear or hear me out. We are a close bunch that are able to b***** to each other and we always have potlucks! I've reduced the amount of overtime, I usually try to do an extra shift every two weeks or at least once a month. I learned not to over do it.

Thank you lig

[KnightRN22]

Thats nuts! How in the world do you care for 9 patients? I can't even imagine what your shift is like. I completely agree with you about the appreciation issue, I feel that they will sit down with you and listen but the conversation never goes anywhere or nothing is done about it (actions speak louder than words people). Some of the aides are great and don't mind helping, we have an understanding that if i help you, then you help me (teamwork!).

Hopefully you have better experiences and good luck in your future job hunting!