Overwelmed with fulltime job--need advice

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in MS, OB, PEDI, VNA, TELEM.

i know i should be glad to have a full time job--but we are very under and unsafely staffed at the moment. i am a nervous wreck. i work on a busy med-surg unit and am usually in charge of the floor plus have a full assignment. i can't even think about going to work with out feeling nauseous. i have been a nurse for 28 years and have worked full time except for 6 of these when my now teenaged kids were little--then i worked 24 hrs a week and looked forward to going. working part time would be doable except i carry the med insurance for the family--which will cost over $200 a week to keep. it might be worth it to have my sanity. please, any advice??

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

If you are really miserable maybe you could go on part-time and just pay the extra to keep your benefits until you can find another job. Good luck.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I am sorry that you're so overwhelmed that its affecting your health and stress level. Is it possible for you to express this concern to management? Are there other areas of nursing that interest you? I know that you have a lot of experience and seniority but nausea before work is a good sign that you probably need to move on. I know chnage is scary but sometimes it is for the best. Don't let fear of the unknown keep you in an unsafe, but familiar situation

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If you can afford it then reduce your hours. Is $800 worth all the stress and being burned out? If you get so overwhelmed to the point that you can't take it anymore and then quit, it will be worth more than $800. So, think about it deeply.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Is this a new position or is it because staffing has recently tanked and you're so overworked? Is there relief in sight (are they hiring and it will just take some time, or is this chronic).

Those answers may help you decide. You have too many years in for this to be about you and your skill set, the varriables are with your manager or employer. Consider speaking with management and see what the staffing game plan is prior to making any financial decisions. We too are very short, have been so for a month, but my manager is aggressively hiring and communicating all her efforts as well as everyone is volunteering extra to help each other.

So I know it's short term, only you know how long this will last, but I too worry about your health, we burn out quickly and hate nursing under your conditions. So while I can't give any advice, we're here to "listen" as you figure it out. Wish you well, and REST on your days off.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Make a "pros and cons" list about your job and then see if you can speak with someone in HR about your stressors.

You're an experienced person, so if YOU are overwhelmed, I can only imagine everyone else must be as much or moreso.

Speak with management as a group; work out, figure out what YOU all can do as a group.

Good luck...

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