How can nurses avoid burnout?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi-

One topic that comes up a lot is burnout. Nursing is a physically, emotionally, mentally demanding job. What can a nurse to do avoid burnout?

Some folks on these boards have said that entry level nurses should start in med-surg because you learn a ton. A friend of mine recently told me DO NOT do that because you'll get burned out too fast and you'll hate it. Thoughts?

I have to imagine there are ways to try to minimize burnout, either by taking a specific career route, by finding outlets for the frustration on your off time, or maybe being careful about the facility you choose to work in.

Any thoughts on this topic would be appreciated. I'm applying for nursing school next fall (taking pre-reqs now) and appreciate any advice anyone has.

Best regards,

L

Another old thread.... oh well, here goes :)

While I started in this back in the mid 80s, and had more options as far as just up and moving to another specialty, it really was a key in dealing with the "symptoms" described in the illness analogy. I do think that med surg of some sort is important for base skills that will be useful anywhere, and sort of extend school in some ways, to get to apply the stuff you learn. Theory and book learnin' is one thing....getting out there and applying it is what you're aiming for :)

I also switched up shifts periodically, as well as specialty- and it worked well for me.

Something to consider (aside from burnout)- INSURE yourself for every possibility out there. If I didn't have the long term disability insurance policy I had through work, I'd be under a bridge somewhere, or listening to bullets fly through my cardboard box. Be ready for the unexpected (which is a big stress relief). I thought I"d be working another 20 years...and I'd give anything to go back to work driving me nuts :D

Don't let anybody tell you what is good for you- you make the decision yourself with pros and cons clearly listed. Make educated changes. :)

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

Make time for yourself, because nobody else will do it for you. Be good to you-- you deserve it.

When working make sure that you both eat and pee! This goes a long way to making an unbearable shift into a bearable one.

Have hobbies, so you have something fun to look forward to on days off.

Schedule a regular massage. Spend time with loved ones, and friends.

In short, remember how to be a happy person, and you lower risk of burnout. In my experience, nurses who were miserable before coming to work, were miserable AT work and burned out pretty fast.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Join a gym and keep yourself healthy before anything.....AND....

Join all nurses.com to vent frustration, seek additional advice, or just chat to other nurses about your long day! Keeps me from getting overwhelmed as a new nurse!

:yelclap::hhmth::nmbrn:

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