I am completely burned out

Published

I just need to vent. I am suffering.

When I wanted to go to nursing school I thought nursing would be so different.

Every single day that I go to work it is very stressful, my hair is falling fast and I am gaining so much weight. Nursing is ruining my life. I lost many friends because of how stressful my job is and when I dont work I am still stressed because of the days I did work..and on my days off I get anxiety thinking that I am going to work the next day.

I hate when nurses talk about other nurses, I hate when they are disrespectful towards one another. I hate being overworked and people taking advantage of me because they know I always say yes. I always help anyone that needs help regardless of how busy I am. Its just the way I was brought up. I am very respectful, never argue, very calm and nursing is a completely different atmosphere.

I wish I could go back in time and go with another profession.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I also wanted to mention that I plan to quit my job in about 2 months. I will be so happy. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I also wanted to mention that I plan to quit my job in about 2 months. I will be so happy. :)
It takes a smart person to realize nursing isn't the right career for him/her. Good luck with your future pursuits!
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Do you feel that way about the job itself, or is it the place that you work that makes you feel that way? I understand how you feel, my job is extremely stressful and even on days that I don't work, I worry and stress about how the next day will go or I worry myself sick about something that happened on the last shift I worked. But I realized that I LOVE being a nurse.. but LTC just isn't for me. I have 45 residents, it takes all shift to finish the med pass, coworkers don't bother with doing me any favors, and management is just awful. So now I'm looking into some job openings at doctor offices, hospitals, home health, etc. If you truly feel that nursing isn't for you, I recommend you get out now. But if you're like me, you might just need a change in work environment :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Do you feel that way about the job itself, or is it the place that you work that makes you feel that way? I understand how you feel, my job is extremely stressful and even on days that I don't work, I worry and stress about how the next day will go or I worry myself sick about something that happened on the last shift I worked. But I realized that I LOVE being a nurse.. but LTC just isn't for me. I have 45 residents, it takes all shift to finish the med pass, coworkers don't bother with doing me any favors, and management is just awful. So now I'm looking into some job openings at doctor offices, hospitals, home health, etc. If you truly feel that nursing isn't for you, I recommend you get out now. But if you're like me, you might just need a change in work environment :)

I am sure its my job and management. Just yesterday I went to a restaurant and saw a group of 5 nurses eating lunch. Wow they looked so happy. We only get 30 minutes if that and most of the time I am called out of my lunch to go do a task or give medication, answer a call etc...

Knowing their are jobs out there that probably give them 1 hour of lunch makes me feel better.

I just don't want to take the chance and find another nursing job that will be as stressful as the one I currently have.

These next 2 months I need to think really hard on what I want to do with my future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Hey Bro,

Sorry you are so unhappy. What can you do get a little happiness outta this life?

You have to take care of YOU. Sometimes that is a polite "No, thanks for asking". When I was an agency nurse, I was always getting calls to work. They didn't really care about me, just needed to fill shifts. I could get called to do a day shift when I was working the night before. Like 24 hours?? Yep, they weren't paying attention to my schedule. They would beg with a line like, "They are asking for YOU". I was a softie and either did it or felt terribly guilty. (I did go to a Catholic nursing school, you know)

I realized I couldn't say "No" to that kind of pressure, so I bought an answering machine, screened my calls and found FREEDOM. I learned life would go on without me. I don't how, but I got a spine and started using it. I still gave a lot to my career but I kept enough for myself. I got to eat lunch, go to the bathroom, have days off I wanted, work my share of holidays (I'm a Thanksgiving person and don't mind working Christmas) and still help others.

Most times it's not a flat out "No" more like a "in a minute, when I finish this", or "Let me think about it and I'll get back to you" That's how I protect my little world of sanity.

You sound like a really nice guy and want everyone to like you. But you're right, people will take advantage of that. You are entitled to your own happiness but you have to define it and protect it. It's not like you only have two choices. Be an azz or be a doormat. Like when the airlines tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others, you really do have to take care of YOU.

You may have been very lucky to have parents that loved you and did a lot of the screening of bad things or protecting or maybe even making the decisions for you. But in this big adult world you get to do that for yourself now.

You must be your own best advocate. Really no one cares as much about you as YOU. Hopefully you are not too burntout and can learn to adequately set some boundaries cuz there is no job, or manager, or profession that will save you without it.

I have had a great, fulfilling career in nursing and hate to see you miss out while looking for something that doesn't exist. You may indeed find another job more to your liking and temperament but it's still all about you taking care of you.

Good luck and take care (of yourself)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey Bro,

Sorry you are so unhappy. What can you do get a little happiness outta this life?

You have to take care of YOU. Sometimes that is a polite "No, thanks for asking". When I was an agency nurse, I was always getting calls to work. They didn't really care about me, just needed to fill shifts. I could get called to do a day shift when I was working the night before. Like 24 hours?? Yep, they weren't paying attention to my schedule. They would beg with a line like, "They are asking for YOU". I was a softie and either did it or felt terribly guilty. (I did go to a Catholic nursing school, you know)

I realized I couldn't say "No" to that kind of pressure, so I bought an answering machine, screened my calls and found FREEDOM. I learned life would go on without me. I don't how, but I got a spine and started using it. I still gave a lot to my career but I kept enough for myself. I got to eat lunch, go to the bathroom, have days off I wanted, work my share of holidays (I'm a Thanksgiving person and don't mind working Christmas) and still help others.

Most times it's not a flat out "No" more like a "in a minute, when I finish this", or "Let me think about it and I'll get back to you" That's how I protect my little world of sanity.

You sound like a really nice guy and want everyone to like you. But you're right, people will take advantage of that. You are entitled to your own happiness but you have to define it and protect it. It's not like you only have two choices. Be an azz or be a doormat. Like when the airlines tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others, you really do have to take care of YOU.

You may have been very lucky to have parents that loved you and did a lot of the screening of bad things or protecting or maybe even making the decisions for you. But in this big adult world you get to do that for yourself now.

You must be your own best advocate. Really no one cares as much about you as YOU. Hopefully you are not too burntout and can learn to adequately set some boundaries cuz there is no job, or manager, or profession that will save you without it.

I have had a great, fulfilling career in nursing and hate to see you miss out while looking for something that doesn't exist. You may indeed find another job more to your liking and temperament but it's still all about you taking care of you.

Good luck and take care (of yourself)

Thank you for your post. You are right I need to take care of myself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Im sory you went threw this, I worked so hard to get my lpn I was a can before never judged just thankful. Its easier said then done to take care of ourselves but I do agree, your not alone. I have 2 years exp as a field hhc nurse, I still cant get a job where I have any respect not just toward familys that's part of the job, patient is my priority, its staff. never late, never called out, was lied to about benefits if I worked 6 nights a week. then I realized its the job, I rly relate to you venting is good, however im glad you owned up to not blaming nursing or being a victim. Drama is everywhere im over 25 yrs old I wanted a job that wasn't so isolating I have always loved cnas cmas, anyone rns rnbsns. Where I was hired I was bullied so bad just for being the only lpn. I realized not every medical assistant is like that, bc after I went right back to home healthcare, I know we all can agree to disagree please no judgements for I look up to all of you. I am so unhappy, so I just wake up be thankful I have a job, and keep applying to more. thank you all for reading this. I worked so hard, walked all over which I allowed, so that's on me. Was respected by families, disrespected. its part of the job, I have never once been treated like a nurse let alone human working in HHC esp one international one, the lies, the free lunch they need you more then you need them don't forget that. Be professional Be proud, don't let anyone esp HR and scheduling people make you feel like nothing, unless you know someone in this company, its all an act, which instead of crying about, im going to take a stand report it, stay true to myself, I would do anything to just have a job where im treated like a nurse. I have never been disrespectful, always tried to put up boundries, its so sad. We became nurses to help sick ppl. it shouldn't be making us sad or sick, lets change it. Take a stand fight for urself, Send letters to NJ BON in Trenton don't stop that's how things change. Please pick ur battles, please vent help me by reading and giving me any advice contructive criticism we need it, but more needs to be done, theres some really great DONS and Jobs out there for us, I hope u have it, if not lets get it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have you considered home care? If you like your patients and enjoy the skills and work but hate the environment I think that could be a good niche for you

Good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion