Is this burnout?

i certainly am not a mental health professional, but i would suggest that it may be as much depression as burnout.

I would suggest you make an appointment with a psychologist psychiatrist...and go from there.

Maybe it's just the type of nursing you are currently doing? I used to work in L&D as a nursing student and now I work on a surgical unit as an RN. Not very exciting. Not very fulfilling. I have a few moments while working that I know I am making a difference for my pts with my care, but for the most part it's just pass pain meds and antibiotics. I miss the newborns and new moms, but I am grateful to have this first job as a learning experience and stepping stone for whatever lies ahead.

You have stated that your job is fine - supportive co-workers and boss. Seems to me you have a bit of the "Peggy Lee syndrome" setting in . Note to non-boomers: one of PL's most famous songs was "Is this all there is?".... sort of an anthem for being let-down by situations that didn't live up to one's expectations.

When we are in hot pursuit of a goal (education, diet, career change, etc), we are completely focused on that goal. We idealize the goal - achieving it will make something wonderful happen. Otherwise, it would be hard to stay motivated, right? Unfortunately, rarely do all our dreams come true in the real world - certainly not due to only one event.

Just because you in a bit of a slump does not mean that there is anything wrong with you or that you need to seek pharmaceutical intervention! No one's life is perpetually cheerful and upbeat. We all have cycles of highs and lows. It's not about your job or any one thing. You are in a low place right now and have a case of the blahs, but that will eventually subside. Your job should never be the entire focus of your life or even the most fulfilling part of your life.

My advice? Decide to be happier and do something about it. Day dream a little - what gives you a sense of accomplishment and makes you feel good about yourself. What are you passionate about? What is missing? Make some changes in your life to include more of these things. Chances are, they are not huge changes. In my case for instance, I realized that I need periods of solitude to stay in balance - getting away from other people's demands and re-charging my batteries by doing something creative or simply reading or goofing off.

Eventually, you may decide to return to school - or not. This will not have any bearing on your worth as a nurse or as a person.

I could have written this first post. My job is the job that I would have written for myself, if I had a "what will I be when I grow up" essay. Its ideal. There are some issues, but much less than what many other people have to put up with, and the stress level is fairly low. Yet, I am unhappy.

Not sure how I will handle it, but we'll see how the next few months play out. I hope you find something to inspire you again. We all deserve to have that in our lives.

What was it about nursing that you used to like? Do you think your expectations of nursing are not aligned with reality? Or are you just not doing the type of work that gets you excited?Getting your RN would allow you more variety and responsibility, which you might enjoy more, unless you just don't enjoy patient care. You sound really bored with your job, so maybe you just need a change?

I wonder if you might be depressed? You say you've lost interest in things you used to like, you're not excited or energized, you feel paralyzed. Going from the school environment to the work environment is a huge change. It sounds like you're working in a job that wasn't your cup of tea to start with. I don't think it's the environment itself--your coworkers sound great and you're work load doesn't appear to be overwhelming. Are you doing anything other than working? Do you need to find something to fill up your non-work hours? Do you have friends outside of work? Does it feel like your life has gotten one-sided, perhaps?

Maybe before you quit you might think about seeing a therapist to help you sort this out. Changing jobs might help, but if you're putting yourself right back into the same situation you're not going to be happy--again. Think about it, okay?