Help! Early burnout!

I am a nurse of less than a year and already feeling burned out. I dread going to work. I am a floor nurse on GI/urology med-surg; we also get some overflow from ortho. I love the people I work with and they are very helpful; however, I typically have 7 patients (the nursing home crowd for the most part), usually the majority of them are "poopers", MRSA, TPN, blood, pain meds Q2hrs X several patients, and I am run ragged. We often have only one tech who is so busy I feel guilty asking for her help. I go home trying to remember what I forgot to do. Often I only have time to pass meds and change dressings and leave with patients upset because they feel they didn't get good care - and they truly didn't because there was not enough time even though I feel that time management is one of my strong points. I am not lazy, simply overworked. I have to escape. The mental stress, not to mention the fact that I physically don't get a break, (sometimes not stopping to eat or pee the entire shift) is killing me. This is a second career and I'm no young chick. Can't keep it up.

I'd like suggestions on where to go from here with my one year of nursing experience. I was an administrative assistant in a large corporation for nearly 20 years prior to nursing, directing a staff of about 30; I really love paperwork, have no problem with sitting at a desk. I also directed up to 300-member theatre productions for several years so have experience in managing people. I'd love to do research or work with clinical trials, etc. but don't know where to start to find a position such as this, if they exist. Can anybody help?

Another problem in applying for a job is the fact that at my hospital, we don't do IVs or draw blood, so I don't have those skills. It makes me feel totally dumb to apply for a job when I can't do these things. We have IV team and phlebotomists who do this and I need to learn but the hospital doesn't offer any options. I feel like an RN should be able to do this, but opportunity to learn is just not available where I work.

Thanks.

I think you should change hospital. 7 patient's with no nursing assistant to help you in the floor? I work on the floor before and in CA before nurse/patient ratio was enforce i get 7 patients x all the issues that you said but I worked with a nursing assistant. Now that nurse/patient ratio on Medsurg is 1:5 with nursing assistant it's even better and I totally love my job.

Hey!

Why does it say that my age is 30 next to my post? I am over 50! Whoa! This site strokes the ego.

hi paula,

sadly, many nurses can relate to the burnout you're experiencing. having a yr behind you should qualify you to seek another job. you can always take an iv cert course and/or phlebotomy. taking these courses will show your enthusiasm for learning. perhaps you might want to talk with a recruiter at a medical staffing firm? you tell them what you're looking for and they do all the screening.

to get into research usually requires a bachelor's degree, if not a master's. but there are facilities that don't overburden the nurse, and that treat their employees well. it just takes doing some homework. get well and stay well.

leslie

I say try something else. At least when I was in ER we didn't have to clean up a lot of poo. That was one of my requirements. I mean occasionally, but not on any sort of a regular basis.

If you can handle yourself under fire, give it a try!!!!

But..... I don't know if I burned out or what. I worked ER/Trauma unit for about 5 years and then when I had kids I was never able to go back.

Thanks.

I will look into the staffing firm. That's a good idea. I hate the thought of calling and setting up interviews, etc. I am thinking I may go check out Home Health or Hospice. I love nights and I'd have to change to days but so what? At this point, I'm ready to make a change and sacrifice something for a little break - at least 30 minutes for lunch! HOHO. If you have other comments, don't hesitate to post them. I'm open to all suggestions.

Paula,

I'm your age. I hear you so well. I tried hospice. I liked it but thought I wanted to go back to LTC. Big mistake--over the top busy. I just quit. I'm burnt to a crisp. I dont know what I'll do... Its hard to be just starting a new career ladder with management experience. I know I've been a much better boss than the ones I've had to endure so far! I wish you the very best in your search to find your place.