How to avoid burnout?

lpnflorida · Jan 24, 2009

Have a good support system in place. Try not to take your job/work personally. It is a profession, but it does not have to define WHO you are. Have interests outside of the medical field. Do not work excessive overtime. Time away from work is essential in maintaining good mental health.

Try and take yearly vacations if not two per year. The needn't be long vacations or exotic just something that feels like a treat. Everyone needs to feel like they are working for something besides just the necessities of life.

CathyLew · Jan 24, 2009

When I was a student nurse, there was a sign hanging in the med room at the hospital we were all training at. ******* don't burn out. Didn't know what that meant till I started working! I don't know if I believe it in totaly, but I do get the consept.

Like lpnflorida says, vacations are a must. You can't skip them. Even when they say they will be short staffed..... you earned them, take them, you need them. Never be a martyr.

another thing I found usefull, durring those nights I knew the census was peak, the staff was down...and the shift was super busy. I keep a picture handy that I can take out and even tape to the nurses station where I will do my charting (If I get to sit down!) even with the crankiest doctor on the phone...the most demanding family member chewing my ear. If I can catch a glimps of what I am working for..... It all puts it in perspective.

I started doing that, and others did as well. Our Buliten Board turned into a scrap book board. People brought in pictures of kids, pets, or whatever motivated them. On a hard day, you could see them swinging by the board and even talking to the pictures.

I love my cat! · Jan 24, 2009

Here are a few that I can think of:::

-Take care of YOU first and foremost! :redbeathe :redbeathe

-Don't feel guilty saying, "No, I am unable to come in" if you are called to come in on your day off. You never have to provide a reason. If they demand a reason, have some pat answer ready. It's none of their business why you don't want to go in. DO NOT let them guilt you into it either. Only go in if YOU want to go in.

-Don't cover days off for people unless they are willing to trade shifts. What usually seems to happen if you do not trade, is this: You continually cover others' shifts and then when you ask them to do you a favor and cover your shift, they are always busy/sick/tired/can't, etc......It gets old really fast.

-Always take your breaks and meals and make sure that they are uninterrupted. Check your local State laws on breaks and meals.

-Never, ever work off the clock. Why work for free?

-Team work! Always ask for help if you need it and always be there to help others.

-Call in sick if you are sick. Do not feel guilty for this. (I know I mention "guilt" a lot, but it has been my experience that many Nurses seem to feel a lot of guilt for things that they absolutely should not feel any guilt about!)

-Don't take it personally if someone doesn't like you. Trying to be everyone's friend almost never works. It doesn't mean you have to be mean or rude, but just remember you can't please everyone all of the time. There will be personality conflicts. I'm sure you will run across people you can't stand. Its human nature.

Dragonnurse1, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2009

:twocents:Avoiding burnout really depends on the shift, department and hospital. Having spent all my time on nights in the Emergency Room my knowledge is only in this area. Despite what the floor nurses think, ER is tough, usually wall to wall, and stressful. We kept from going batty:innerconf by using humor - most would call it dark humor - but it worked for us. :smiley_ab During halloween we drank punch out of urinals :bugeyes:and emesis:barf01: basins were dinner trays. We all said AMEN when the drt calls came in.

But after a really, really bad night, we would gather on the parking deck and debrief and if crying was needed we - all of nights held on to each other and cried. Then home to bed and back for the next night, fresh eyes and ready for anything.

Every night we each said a simple prayer right before we too the floor - Lord please let me first do no harm.

You will be OK:thankya:

Jules A, MSN · Jan 24, 2009

I work two jobs. One in govt. to get the awesome benefits and one perdiem for the awesome pay. If I'm frustrated at work its short lived because I'm not there every single day. It has also been my experience that if your employer is the only game in town they do not treat you as well. When they know you aren't totally dependent on them it just seems to be nicer.

MB37 · Jan 24, 2009

If you're still in school, you really shouldn't be worried already about burning out on a profession you haven't started yet. However, I basically agree with the above suggestions, and they really apply to any job you'll ever have. Take care of you and make sure you like your life outside of work. Try to get and keep a schedule that's at least somewhat sane, and don't feel any obligation to do your employer any favors - pick up a shift if you need the cash, but don't let them guilt you into anything. Also, one of my instructors advised us to think hard about any major purchases right out of school, and to not get in over our heads with car/house/etc. payments to the point that we HAD to work OT every week just to pay the bills. Pick up a shift if you're planning a vacation or something, not to keep the lights on. Good luck!

SoundofMusic · Jan 26, 2009

I think what's helping me right now is to take additional courses, add to my knowledge base, become a resource person on a few additional items on the floor, and try to attend those CEU lectures. To me just adding more understanding of my job helps.

And just ENJOY the days off -- relax, heavily. Do something fun, new, treat yourself somehow. We nurses work like dogs -- we need to relax like the dogs when we can!

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2009

Wow, there's been some great advice given in this thread. I agree with alot of what has been said. I would add that it's good to have a hobby, that doesn't involve the hospital, medicine, etc. Something where you can just forget you're a nurse for a while.

Also, it's good if you have friends or fellow nurses you can talk to when the going gets rough. :)