I am burning out..

And look for another job. I see so many nurses...especially older nurses...who stay at the same spot eventhough it drives them crazy. If you take money out of the equation and can find a job at a little less pay but a lot less stressful I say go for it! Heck if I hadn't signed a two year contract for a sign on bouns I'd be doing it!

And look for another job. I see so many nurses...especially older nurses...who stay at the same spot eventhough it drives them crazy. If you take money out of the equation and can find a job at a little less pay but a lot less stressful I say go for it! Heck if I hadn't signed a two year contract for a sign on bouns I'd be doing it!

I'm already in the process of getting a transfer. If that falls through I will look elsewhere. Thankfully, I didn't get a sign on bonus and I avoid all places that offer one because to me it says there is something wrong if they are offering a sign on bonus.

Before you do anything, take some time off and take stock of what you like about this job and what you don't like. Take advantage of your facilities employee assistance program and go talk to a counselor just to have someone impartial to bounce your ideas off of. The reason I say this is because early in my career when things started to bug me instead of working on ways to better cope and deal with situations, I would just leave and go to another job. And what I finally learned is that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. When you change jobs, you never know what you are really getting into until you get there. It might be worse that what you are leaving.

What I came to determine is that people are the same no matter where I was. The complaints were the same and the issues were the same. I could not change the people but I could change my reaction to them. So I had do to my own work to learn how to keep my calm and to stop allowing people to get under my nerves. I had a short fuse and a quick temper and little stuff would just set me off. I stopped trying to solve everyone's problems for them and I got away from the gossips in the unit. And I worked hard to keep my emotions in check. And what I found is my control of myself and my emotions has changed my environment completely. The people have not changed but my reaction to them has changed completely and I am now happy at work and I find myself better able to help and support those who use to bug me endlessly. Give it some thought.

"this might sound extremely selfish in the grander scheme of things, but you come first. your basic needs, emotional well being, and mental health must be optimal before you can fully function at work. it's amazing that we are entrusted to provide care to others, yet we sometimes neglect to care for ourselves."

the commuter is right on target.

burnout happens to strong people, so don't think that you have some flaw.

think of the water bucket. it is just a vessel, used to carry nourishing, refreshing water. as one person after another gets a sweet drink of water, the bucket becomes empty. you are a vessel of compassion and kindness, giving your best to one person after another, at home and at work. just like the bucket, there is only so much to give. then it is gone. this is where we become empty and burned out.

the bucket will be refilled; you will be renewed. take care of yourself, strengthen your vessel by caring for yourself as your most precious child. because you are. then you can go back and keep your bucket at a nice level. but right now, your bucket only has a little left.

these posts are full of good info and the best support. you may be battling for your soul. trust your instincts, because they are geared toward your survival.

no way are you a horrible person. no way. i've read your posts and you show humor and knowledge. horrible people are rarely introspective. see that proves it, you are not horrible.

rule #1 -- be on your own side. you don't need one more person picking on you.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice. I'm feeling a bit better today and I think it's due to all of the exercise I've been doing as its helping me get out a lot of aggression I have. I will be on my own side now instead of beating myself up mentally and emotionally. I come first, no one else.

Good job! We love you!

I too have felt that burnt out feeling, especially over the last year. The politics, egos and administrations unrealistic demands, watching coworkers getting fired for trivial issues and others are untouchable for MAJOR offenses in policies. In addition being unappreciated as evident by crappy raise, and never being made aware of anything positive that I do; only what's wrong, needs improvement, etc..... Sick of it!

I am starting out the new year working 2 nites per week; will not work OT at my current employer. Plan to pick up some agency hours as needed....choose when to work, at facilities in which I won't be involved in their politics. Just focus on providing good care, and doing my job.

Will $$$ be tight? More than likely, but I rather preserve my mental and physical health, than to continue the unhappiness and dreading I have each time I get ready to go to work.

I now know(finally realize!) that I can choose to be happy, and am in control of making such choices.

I hope you realize it too!!!

Take it from someone who has experienced burrnout- take some time off. Money is not everything. Check to see if your hospital offers am employee assistance program. If they do, call and see a counselor to just talk. I was off last year for 7 weeks and it really helped me. I still see a counselor to just talk. Good luck to you, you sound alot like me, wants the best for the patients and get frustrated when thnigs don't go right. :heartbeat

I have been a nurse several years, and I am burned out too. I am currently searching for a new career in order to keep my sanity. I have changed jobs frequently, thinking it would be better elsewhere. I have finally come to realize that it is the nursing profession, itself, that is just filled with backstabbers, know it alls, complainers, and no matter how hard you work, or the fact that you don't even get a bathroom break, no one is ever happy. Nursing is not a glorious profession like some think it is. We are overworked, underpaid, and overstressed!