New Grad Burnt Out after 3mnths

markjrn · Jul 20, 2005

It seems pretty simple to me - leave. If this position is having this kind of effect on you, then you obviously need to go. No guilt, nothing. Apply for another position in a unit that has a decent rep and manager.

Personally, I would give a head's-up to the union, since you stated that she isn't following the rules. Obviously thie NM needs to be addressed. She's probably burned out.

MandyInMS · Jul 20, 2005

Hi All,
Even the old timers are telling me that our unit is awful due to management and tell me I should look for something else because I am being "used". I just feel so bummed out about the whole thing and feel like I've let myself down if I leave. But, I am so exhausted and unhappy, I think I need to consider the old timers advice. Anyone have any supportive words of advice or similar experiences?

Sounds like you would be 'letting yourself down' if you STAYED. Life's too short to be miserable.

live4today, RN · Jul 20, 2005

In a work environment, abuse can only continue when the employees allow it to continue. Show your disapproval by leaving that job. Take the attitude of "zero tolerance" of abuse in the workforce....even in other aspects of your daily life.

Employee abuse continues because employees will verbally complain, but take no ACTION toward alleviating the abuse. State the problems at your workplace, tell them what you will do if things don't change, and then act on the outcome of that decision. If the employer changes things to make the environment more conducive to work in, then stay and help improve things. If the employer fails to respond to the complaints...........walk. Plain and simple. :)

fergus51 · Jul 20, 2005

File a grievance for any actions that are against the contract and find another job.

cameleon · Jul 22, 2005

It's unfortunate that the manager of your unit doesn't want to address the issue at hand. I'm one of those old timers that stayed with a particular unit that would exist one day and gone the next(long story).I left after 10 years, exposed myself to different areas in nursing. Came back, joined their float pool, and found contentment.

twilite · Aug 4, 2005

I'm sorry to tell you this, but after being a nurse for 20+ years, I've seen it all. Especially the inconsideration towards nurses, lack of respect, guilt trips placed upon us, and all the rest of the garbage that goes with it. Most of the jobs I have left have been because of either bullying type management, unfairness on the jobs, politics, playing favorites. Not to mention unbelievably heavy workloads, and the constant threat hanging over you that 1.you could lose your nursing license for this or that error, infraction, or #2 possibly be sued. I've had families yell at me about their sick family member. I've been stuck for shifts for up to 17 hours at a time. Mandatory overtime, working extremely shorthanded, under unbearable conditions.

As a workforce, we nurses are always taken advantage of, and between all the paperwork now, and rules and regs. with HMO's, government funded payments, etc. whats allowed and what's not allowed; I now feel I also double duty as a secretary. I feel that what I thought nursing was is not at all what nursing has turned out to be for me. I feel more and more like a sucker doing a job not many others would want to do, and have been forced to swallow my pride, soak my feet, take motrin for my aching back and keep going back in for that paycheck. I'm sorry to say, the way its become, the only rewards I'm finding in nursing these days is my paycheck, which I MORE than earn.

I just need a place to vent. I think I am experiencing job burnout and I've only been working for 3.5 mnths. I am on a surgical unit, have 4-5 patients on days/evenings and 8 on nights. My shifts are varied I am working all over the place. I just did a stretch of 9 nights with one day off in between, and am now going back after 2 off to do a stretch of days. My manager is not the best and the unit has a fairly high turnover due to mainly management issues, and lack of consideration for nurses. She doesn't follow union rules, and takes advantage of us on a regular basis, ie scheduling too many in a row etc etc etc. I could go on and on. I really love my patients, and this is what keeps me going back, but after doing this long stretch of nights, with an entire month of nights coming up (20 something nights) I am seriously thinking about leaving this unit and looking for something else. I am working with other grads, some who have been out for 8 months, who are also experiencing burn out and job dissatisfaction and have rotated through an average of 4 jobs since December on different units. My manager is NOT open to discuss issues and in the past when I've gone to talk to her about some of my concerns, she has been rude, flippant, sarcastic and NON supportive. Everyone I've talked to dislikes her and many of the nurses who have stuck around for years and have seen management come and go on this unit, are sticking it out because they only have a few years until retirement. Even the old timers are telling me that our unit is awful due to management and tell me I should look for something else because I am being "used". I just feel so bummed out about the whole thing and feel like I've let myself down if I leave. But, I am so exhausted and unhappy, I think I need to consider the old timers advice. Anyone have any supportive words of advice or similar experiences?

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 4, 2005

Definetly find a better job. Start looking before you leave this one, and once you nail another put in your 2 weeks notice and be gone! Good luck to you. :)

Heather56 · Aug 7, 2005

I just read your thread and am wondering which province you are working in. I know in BC the BCNU addresses many of the issues you describe quite clearly in our contract. You should talk to a union rep, after all dealing with issues like these is what we pay union dues for!