LVN Burnout

[dodiewayne]

I have only been an LVN for 4 years and am wondering if what I feel is burn out. I have worked at the same LTC since I received my license. I use to work baylor weekends - in which I worked 2 doubles and was paid 40 hours for those days. I became injured and ended up having to have back surgery. I went back to work but working nights. I find it harder and harder to go to work. I am so tired all the time. I even question if I still want to be a nurse. I love computers and have a good background with them, so I have pondered over just switching to something in that field. I was feeling this way before I hurt my back but hoped it would be different when I came back. It hasnt been.

Any suggestions on how to fix this??? I do like being a nurse, I think so anyway. Some times I dont feel that way though. It just seems like a daily inner struggle.

[ambr46]

I went from LTC into home health and it made a huge, huge difference in the quality of my life. Getting my RN though gave me more options than working as an LVN. I too got severely burned out in LTC and would rather be destitute and bankrupt rather than take that on again.

[bluegeegoo2, LPN]

I have been examining what it is I like about nursing and it turns out that I enjoy problem solving. Nursing does provide me with many problems to solve, but it's not the NURSING part, it's the PROBLEM SOLVING part where I gain satisfaction. Therefore, I have been looking at other career options that will provide me with lots of problems to solve (hopefully) without unrealistic demands from families, residents, etc. to contend with. People can be ridiculous and frankly, I'm tired of dealing with them. Stick me in a cubby with a stack of issues to resolve and I'd be one happy camper. At least in theory. I'm looking at something in computers as well. I guess I'll see where that goes for me. :)

[michelle Victoria]

Folks I've been in LVN in TEXAS for 6 years done skilled, long term home health and tried for my RN almost finished but well things took a turn. I guess I was not destined to be an RN. However, I believe things happen for a reason, perhaps God is opening up a new door and telling me to move into a new career wave. Perhaps working as a medical laboratory technician or diagnostic x ray tech, without much patient contact. One thing I hate about nursing is too much RN overly recognition RNitis. I believe LPNs and LVNS are just as good, some even better than RNS. In fact now with COVID19 lots of RNs are leaving the career because well I guess one thing that's for sure is that lots of people who go into nursing are in it for the money vs patients, now with all this pandemic maybe LVNS/LPNs will have to step up to the plate and I believe you all should, After all most of you have more contact with hands on than a lot of RNs do. AS far as my destiny I don't know but I pray that God will guide me in the right path. Best to all and stay safe. Heroes are all Healthcare and Social Service Workers

[Spooky, RN]

The burnout is real. LTC for 4 1/2 years and I don't ever want to go back. I went to a clinic and actually enjoyed it better. The hours were on weekdays only, weekends off, holidays off, no stress of in-patient care, I had my own clinic space/office. Every now and then there were emergencies, but the schedule was pretty strict on appointment-only basis. The only thing was the significant pay difference and I ended up having a burnout as well. 5pm was no longer the norm after a while. It was 8-whenever if I was behind. I'm talking 8-7pm at least one day out of the week.

Change. That's the beauty of nursing. Find a different specialty and learn about it. If you get burned out again, leave and go somewhere else. Change is what we need every now and then!

[michelle Victoria]

thanks Spooky

[Section8UpX68WM6, CNA, LVN, EMT-B]

Just working healthcare will burn you out...period. I got burnt out as a CNA, tele/monitor tech, and LVN in long term care. Even as an LVN "office nurse" case manager, there are days you feel that especially if you can't find a facility for your patient in your desk to rehab at (or for custodial/subacute care). Believe me, the pressure is on you all the time because the hospital loses money if the pt stays in the hospital too long. So finding a rehab/custodial/subacute/board& care facilities is critical and the pressure wears you out sometimes. Subacute and custodial placement are the hardest facilities to get if the patient isn't wealthy and Medicaid ain't in place. Not to mention lack of beds even if those facilities want the pt. I was a home visiting nurse for years too. Just prepping your stuff for home visits the next day while your wife is cooking gets old after a while when your wife is giving you the stink eye to help with the dinner since she is also a nurse ?