I felt burnt out and I'm not even working.

[OrganizedChaos]

I did not have a calling when I started nursing. I didn't know what I wanted to do after high school so my parents "suggested" (more like forced) nursing for me. Well close to 10 years later I feel burnt out & I'm not even working right now.

I tried so hard to get into acute care, I thought it would open so many doors and I would get to experience so much. I did experience a lot but I don't think it was a great opportunity for me. It did show me how horrible nursing is, how much time we spend away from the patient & how little we are respected. After my short stint in the hospital my health took a turn for the worse and I quickly became bitter towards my career.

I was recently diagnosed with Lupus. This was a shock to me but not very surprising. I have had muscle & joint pain since high school and ever since I had my first son I am constantly exhausted. Not just tired, but EXHAUSTED. Even if I get enough sleep plus a nap. Not to mention a whole list of other issues. Add to the eye opener of working on a med/surg floor, I am so over working as a nurse. It didn't matter what I did, how I did it, how I said it or anything. I got more respect from inmates in jails & prisons while I took care of them than from any lay people.

But I don't even know if I want or can go back to nursing. My body cannot handle working 12+ hour shifts and I have tried and tried and tried to apply to telecommuting positions but I have gotten turned down from the few I qualify for.

I use to want to bridge and dreamed of becoming and RN but the thought of going back to school just irritates me. I couldn't imagine spending more time on nursing and having to deal with more rude patients. No thank you! I wouldn't mind going back to corrections, but the prison system where I live won't hire me due to indiscretions in my past when I worked with them (nothing criminal).

I am thinking about applying for SSI, but I don't know that I would get it since my husband makes too much money. Hah. We still live paycheck to paycheck but I wouldn't qualify for SSI and I certainly don't qualify for SSDI since I haven't worked enough. I just want to be out of pain and want to quit living paycheck to paycheck.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

thanks for sharing, it definitely hits home. Getting your RN does open more doors, as I was miserable as an LPN and thought I'd made a huge mistake...but I found that psych worked well for me, also jobs where I don't have coworkers or having to work closely with hospital physicians.

I've worked at a very small free clinic that services only employees of an electric company, where I am the only Nurse

I've worked in Psych which was awesome until a new, difficult, physician took over the ward.

Pediatric home health as an LPN was great and patient/family centered

As an RN doing on call assessments for homehealth

Also IV infusion therapy PRN and

on-call IV infusions for Private pay patients, who are very healthy and extremely appreciative

Nurses are like the football players of healthcare, which most definitely take all the hits, are disrespected by staff and patients alike, while putting health and well being on the line. My mom was a nurse for 20 years, as I traveled with her, over time we saw so many of her coworkers die in their 40s. You can burn out and not realize it. Emotional, mental & physical stress are equally dangerous.

Best of luck, if you're willing to relocate and or further your education, you do have options. Don't be afraid to give it another try, though I know you're exhausted. Push through.

I've worked PDN, hate it. Families throw you under the bus for anything. Can't move, I need help with my children when my Lupus is bad.

I honestly don't know what I want to do. Days like today suck. Because all I want to do is sleep.

[scout mom]

Hang in there!

In 2016, I was very ill. So sick that I didn't know how sick I was and not being 100% truthful with Dr about problems (I'm a horrible patient and tend to downplay any health issues with myself). By the time I was admitted to hospital in December, I was in multi-system organ failure d/t an EF of

Anyways, I am a school nurse and there was no way I could work FT the rest of the year. I wasn't allowed to work PT, per our district ,so I remained off work until August. Since then, I have worked full time and have been doing ok. Some days are better than others. I will say that there is NO way I could work 12 hour bedside shifts. School nurse is 8 hours of busy, but different busy. Also, I have 3 kids and a husband working 12 hour swing shifts. Please don't give up yet. You'll find you'll nook somewhere, some time and love it

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Hang in there!

In 2016, I was very ill. So sick that I didn't know how sick I was and not being 100% truthful with Dr about problems (I'm a horrible patient and tend to downplay any health issues with myself). By the time I was admitted to hospital in December, I was in multi-system organ failure d/t an EF of

Anyways, I am a school nurse and there was no way I could work FT the rest of the year. I wasn't allowed to work PT, per our district ,so I remained off work until August. Since then, I have worked full time and have been doing ok. Some days are better than others. I will say that there is NO way I could work 12 hour bedside shifts. School nurse is 8 hours of busy, but different busy. Also, I have 3 kids and a husband working 12 hour swing shifts. Please don't give up yet. You'll find you'll nook somewhere, some time and love it

OMG! I'm glad to hear you recovered from all of that! That sounds scary. I hope I find my nook, I just feel so defeated right now.

[scout mom]

OMG! I'm glad to hear you recovered from all of that! That sounds scary. I hope I find my nook, I just feel so defeated right now.

Thank you! It was way scarier for my family than for me actually. I knew as a RN about what was going on, but my thinking was pretty fuzzy about all of it.

I've definitely learned to roll with things. Life isn't always what you planned. Aside from my previous post, I also developed Grave's Disease (TSH 0.00) after my first son was born. After jacking around with meds & RI for a couple years, I had to have a total thyroidectomy. Post-op was supposed be an overnight hospital stay which turned into a week because my Ca kept dropping to critical levels. After 12 years, I have to continue to be diligent with Ca and Vitamin D replacement.

My point is that there are good days and bad days. I have been exhausted with my thyroid issues too, but it gets better. Take care of yourself. Find out what works for you personally for your Lupus management. Don't get defeated. Keep on truckin' and help to work towards the best solution for your family. You'll get there!

[winniewoman9060ret]

Hugs to you. Having had rough patches in my life, I've ended up on anti depressants and see a psychiatrist. I had a friend once tell me a counselor is a gift to yourself. Something to think about too.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Thank you! It was way scarier for my family than for me actually. I knew as a RN about what was going on, but my thinking was pretty fuzzy about all of it.

I've definitely learned to roll with things. Life isn't always what you planned. Aside from my previous post, I also developed Grave's Disease (TSH 0.00) after my first son was born. After jacking around with meds & RI for a couple years, I had to have a total thyroidectomy. Post-op was supposed be an overnight hospital stay which turned into a week because my Ca kept dropping to critical levels. After 12 years, I have to continue to be diligent with Ca and Vitamin D replacement.

My point is that there are good days and bad days. I have been exhausted with my thyroid issues too, but it gets better. Take care of yourself. Find out what works for you personally for your Lupus management. Don't get defeated. Keep on truckin' and help to work towards the best solution for your family. You'll get there!

Oh wow!

Yeah, I know what you mean with the good days & bad days. I just wish I had more good days than bad days.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Hugs to you. Having had rough patches in my life, I've ended up on anti depressants and see a psychiatrist. I had a friend once tell me a counselor is a gift to yourself. Something to think about too.

Thank you. *hugs* I have bipolar disorder as well as Lupus. I have always looked for a good therapist near me but the closest ones are over an hour away. Then the online therapists are so expensive.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

I sympathize with you. I am actually looking for a position way from the bedside completely while I go to school to become an MD. Lupus in itself can exhaust you. You can have flare-ups etc. Can you get a non-bedside position or possibly work in a clinic?

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I sympathize with you. I am actually looking for a position way from the bedside completely while I go to school to become an MD. Lupus in itself can exhaust you. You can have flare-ups etc. Can you get a non-bedside position or possibly work in a clinic?

Not in the town I live in, they only hire MAs. If I wanted to commute to the bigger towns I'd have an hour + commute.

[TruvyNurse]

Definitely enjoyed your posts on here and feel like you're an old friend. I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles and I am sending good comforting vibes your way!!

[inthecosmos, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I believe you are confusing SSDI & SSI. I do not qualify for SSDI as I have not worked enough & do not have enough credits. With SSI there is a limit on how much one person can make per month ($750) & a couple ($1,125). My husband makes more than $1,125 so even if I get a lawyer there is no way to get around the fact that my husband makes over $1,125/month.

Wow. That's crazy.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

What about switching careers to something like occupational therapist?