Is nursing burn out really that bad?

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Is nursing burn out really that bad?

I graduated from LPN school and took my NCLEX yesterday. Further down the road, I want to study for an RN. Nursing school is an expensive, hard journey which I am reconsidering due to all the negativity associated with the work environment where nurses are leaving the profession in droves.

I can understand the understaffing can be a problem but is it like this in almost every nursing specialty?

My goal is to work as an operating room RN. Would it still be understaffed?

Are there fields where I wouldn't have to deal with the massive understaffing yet still make great money?

I would really appreciate it if someone experienced can shed some light on what really goes on. 

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

I love my job, dream population, older persons mental health

That said I'm currently day 2 of 8 days leave. I've spent most of the last two days sleeping and almost feel back to baseline. I almost feel just tired as opposed to bone tired weariness

The problems as I see them 

- high acuity that goes on for weeks and weeks and months with no let up. 

- Patients being admitted that don't fit the admission criteria who are abusive, entitled, dismissive and think it gives them a free pass to treat nurses like crap
- Under/over treated patients who end up having a full pyshotic break right on handover and having to call the oncall pyshiatrist in because patient wasnt under the mental health act. Despite the fact that the patient is ramming their walker into the nurses station door, we cant put hands on them as they are not under the mental health act.

- Covid. Had a patient we were trying to get back to their rest home until a colleage (covid mary) came on shift. 

I'm going to be be very blunt (I lack the skills or the inclination to dance around the topic), there is no area in nursing that is not effected by short staffing. Nurses have a choice to pick the area with the least crappy staffing. By being mindful of the short comings you can take steps to ensure the stresses don't bother you too badly. 

Also make sure you roster regular time off. 

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In answering your questions, I believe it has to to do with the state you work in. I don't believe OR is understaffed. I think there is a requirement that a certain amount of RN's need to be available.

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You are getting too far ahead of yourself. What are you going to do with your LPN license?

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Been there,done that said:

You are getting too far ahead of yourself. What are you going to do with your LPN license?

I got my LPN so that I can work for an employer who can help pay for RN school. I was an accountant for about year but decided that I would be better off working in a field where my talents could shine. I went through hell just to obtain my LPN diploma. Applications for RN school begins in about 6 months. But after hearing so much negativity about nurses leaving the field, I'm left wondering would getting my RN even be worth it? I'm going into nursing because it was a way to earn a good living, provide for my family well, and a field where I got to embrace my natural talents.  

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Nursing is not for everyone, one has to have an uptitude for it. Higher pay should not be the main motivator. While giving love and care to your patients, you will receive back the responce that will replanishe your energy and zest for providing the care your patients deserve.

There will be ups and downs, no doubt. There will be days when rest after a challenging shift is a blessing. But there will be days when you will be overwhelmed with joy for making a positive impact in someone's life. 

Life is about finding a sweet balance. I would use the remaining 6 months to work as an LPN to see if nursing is for you and whether you can come close to finding that balance that will be equally rewarding. 

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

OR is not generally understaffed, from what I've heard. I've never worked in the OR. It's about as opposite from the specialties I've worked in as they come.

Nursing is a very broad field, and burnout is definitely worse in nursing than in most other fields. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is that it is a historically pink collar job.

To be successful as a nurse, you need to find your niche. 

 

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Critical Care Transport, ER.
FolksBtrippin said:

To be successful as a nurse, you need to find your niche. 

This sums up my career choices well; if you love what you do, burnout won't be as quick. I've seen many coworkers come and go, either in our department or nursing as a whole. Typically, it's because what they thought was their chosen specialty wasn't. I have moved from ER to CCT to flight nursing in a rather quick revolution, spending only a few years in each. This is mainly because this is the path I've wanted since before going to nursing school. My one piece of advice would be not to stay fixed on the OR. If you get a year or two in and love it, great! If not, look around at other specialties before giving up. Some people find the most unexpected niche roles in nursing. 

Not to say you can't still get burnt out, you still should focus on your own resiliency. Understanding my limits, taking time off appropriately, and learning to say no have all helped me to survive and now even thrive in my job. I love what I do, maybe not every day, but I wouldn't change it!

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If you want high than finance and accounting are better choices.

First certain times of the year short staffing (like the holiday season) are going to be a problem no matter what specialty you work in.

Second the patients and their families are going to expect that you preform to a certain level and do what they feel needs to be done. While the owners, management, Doctors, and the Law are going to have a different set of expectations, and priorities, with you the Nurse caught in the middle. How long can you handle that before burnout? 

Lastly Nursing is a good career field, but Nurses get the blame for things not being the way they want more than any other group because (to management) Doctors bring in money and (to the patient) they are seen as wanting to the right thing but are being stopped by money, insurance, etc..., Everybody sees Bureaucrats as useless and are there slow things down, and while other you are the one saying that they cannot have the pain med or can do something but that you are just unwilling to do anything. 

The reality is more complicated than this, but I tried to answer all your questions. 

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Specializes in oncology.
nursingcand said:

I was an accountant for about year but decided that I would be better off working in a field where my talents could shine.

Re. talents shining: If you are a man you will be promoted quickly. But remember Florence Nightingale was not alone in nursing in the Crimea. Who got the credit?

nursingcand said:

. I went through hell just to obtain my LPN diploma.

We all did. 

go back to college to get your credentials to take the CPA exam. Why couldn't your talents shine there? 

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londonflo said:

If you are a man you will be promoted quickly.

We all did. 

go back to college to get your credentials to take the CPA exam. Why couldn't your talents shine there? 

I have a bachelor's in accounting which qualifies me to sit for the CPA. However, the CPA exam is a much more challenging, lengthy exam compared to the NCLEX and requires significantly more work and preparation. I left the field because the work was too mundane. I was not a "computer person".  Plus, accounting is about to become one of the top fields to be automated within the next 10 yrs. Nursing was a good fit because I had always been amazing at caring for people. It provides job stability which is something many people don't get anymore nowadays. I want to become an operating room RN. Just wanted to check on the work climate for this sector before I head in. 

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Specializes in oncology.
nursingcand said:

. However, the CPA exam is a much more challenging, lengthy exam compared to the NCLEX and requires significantly more work and preparation.

If you thought completing PN school was hard, you better get a grip on professional nursing school and the NCLEX. You have not taken the CPA exam nor the  RN NCLEX in addition to the work and preparation.  Why are you saying one is harder than the other???? You do not know what you are talking about.

PS  How come you can work as an accountant under someone but you cannot work as an RN until you pass RN NCLEX?

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