Most Burned Out Nursing Specialties?

[Mursthetics, BSN, RN]

Hello allnurses,

I recently came across a report by Medscape that surveyed 15,000 physicians and outlined the highest rates of burnout by medical specialty (https://www.medscape.com/slideshow/2018-lifestyle-burnout-depression-6009235).

This got me wondering, is there a report similar to this for nursing?

What are your picks anecdotally for most burned out specialties and why?

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I've worked in only a couple different areas, but I feel like psych is the worst for me. The verbal and physical aggression really takes a toll, and I'm constantly thinking about how to respond to people who are escalating - like even when I'm not at work. I'm pretty sensitive anyway, so this may not be everyone's experience, but there's no way I could spend an entire career in psych, fascinating as it is.

[Asystole RN]

Although not specific to "burnout" I would think turnover rates would be a close representation.

[Mursthetics, BSN, RN]

On 2/5/2019 at 11:04 AM, Asystole RN said:

Although not specific to "burnout" I would think turnover rates would be a close representation.

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for sharing!

Is anyone surprised at the result?

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

It has been my personal observation in pediatric world that Inpatient Oncology seems to have the highest burnout.

[Davey Do]

5 hours ago, NightNerd said:

I've worked in only a couple different areas, but I feel like psych is the worst for me.

That's interesting, NightNerd.

I've heard that psych is where all burned out go to when they can't work as real nurses anymore.

I'm kidding.

(Sort of.)

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

I am not surprised that Med/Surg has high turnover due to high nurse to patient ratios that make it difficult to feel like you are doing a good job. I work in Stepdown and would think the high turnover could be to often having to care for an ICU level patient while not being qualified and having 2 or 3 other patients. ER nurses also face a lot of violence, stress due to the fast pace and high acuity, same thing in Psych. Probably a lot less violence in L and D, postpartum, and Peds although can still have to respond to emergencies. Personally I hope to eventually transfer to pre-op but the turnover there is super low in my hospital so have to wait for someone to retire! Interesting topic

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

That's interesting, NightNerd.

I've heard that psych is where all burned out go to when they can't work as real nurses anymore.

I'm kidding.

(Sort of.)

Davey, I often see people on AN say that psych is where they went after they got sick of med-surg, etc. I don't get it, ?; it's exhausting in its own way, and still pretty darn physical sometimes!

[Davey Do]

On 2/5/2019 at 1:21 PM, NightNerd said:

Davey, I often see people on AN say that psych is where they went after they got sick of med-surg, etc. I don't get it, ?; it's exhausting in its own way, and still pretty darn physical sometimes!

Yes, NightNerd, psych nursing is "pretty darn physical sometimes!

[JKL33]

On 2/5/2019 at 11:28 AM, Mursthetics said:

Is anyone surprised at the result?

I'm surprised at this:

Quote

Voluntary terminations accounted for 92.3% of all hospital separations. To further understand turnover, respondents were asked to identify the top three (3) reasons why employees resigned.

Participants were asked to select from a list of 20 common reasons. Personal reasons (caring for a child/parent, marriage, disability, etc.) and relocation remain at the top of the list with retirement moved up to third.

But then, asking employers why employees resigned might not be the most accurate way to find out why RNs resign.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I wonder if they got those "reasons" from HR rather than from the individuals. The reason I give as to why I quit is very unlikely to be accurate or honest in this highly connected, highly political world called Nursing.

ETA: I went back and read the methodology. The info was gathered from the hospitals HR departments. Not from the individual nurses that left. So....yeah. Inappropriate staffing levels, lateral violence, favoritism and lack of professional development opportunities won't be making the grid.

[kaylee.]

11 hours ago, Davey Do said:

That's interesting, NightNerd.

I've heard that psych is where all burned out go to when they can't work as real nurses anymore.

I'm kidding.

(Sort of.)

There is some truth to this: i have always loved psych but did not go there when i was a naive newbie because i felt like it wasnt “real” nursing. So now after 5 years in step down and total burn out, I am chaning to psyc. So its my perception that changed and now i want to pursue an avenue i really may like. I think the acute bedside was something i needed to find out about though.