Burned out with Level 3, should I go to Level 2?

Specialties NICU

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

After 20 yrs. in Level 3 NICU, I'm thinking about working Level 2 and just picking up occasionally in Level 3. The stress and intensity is getting to me. Especially the parents! I had parents of a 29 weeker asking me if his bedding would strangle him, if the feeding would drown him, etc. etc. They asked non-stop questions the whole shift, I try to be empathetic, but I'm having a hard time. I think it would be less stressful to take care of babies who are going home within weeks, instead of months! In some ways I'm feeling like a failure, but I can't take the stress. I know Level 2 can be stressful too, but the babies just aren't as sick and I think the parents are a little easier to deal with.

Any thoughts?

thanks:confused:

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Specializes in new to NICU.

I think it's safe to say that no matter where you have worked, if you put in 20 years you are not a failure. Not in any way. What is so terrible about wanting to move to a Level 2?

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Going to Level 2 is not bad at all. I just don't do well with change sometimes. I have a few close friends that I will miss if I leave too. But at this point, I don't think I'll miss the intensity of the work.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Your not a failure! I can imagine after 20 yrs wanting something less intense. Its better to do it now then totally burnout one of these days. Believe me I work with quite a few 20yr + nurses, who need to get out, yet they take it out on us newbies instead!

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Specializes in Level II+ NICU.

I'm a new grad in a level 2+, and I can't begin to tell you how valuable nurses like you are to me. Instead of looking at it like failing, look at the positive impact you can have on a level 2, bringing 20 years of level 3 knowledge and experience to those nurses! Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in NICU.

It might be just the change you need! One caveat, having worked Level II and III over my few years of experience. I generally found parents more intense in Level II. When babies are really sick in Level III, parents generally know they don't know how to take care of them and are open to what staff know and want to teach them. (Emphasis on generally). On the other hand, in Level II, they just look healthier and bigger, and many parents seem to think that whatever they knew about healthy full-term babies still applies. I struggled more with parents questioning and controlling inappropriately in Level II. And parents are still understandably emotional, but my patience was just a touch shorter with the extreme emotions with parents of a healthy 35 weeker than a 23 weeker.

Just my 2 cents.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It sound like a good idea to me -- particularly if you can leave on good terms (even if you don't pick up ocassionally) so that you could change your mind if it didn't work out.

I have worked in NICU's where the nurses regularly rotated to level 2 care for just that purpose -- to give them an ocassional break from the intensity so that they could avoid getting burned out. It worked well and I think more NICU's should consider such a routine.

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Specializes in NICU.

Level 2 shouldn't be looked at like a failure. You're still in the NICU, you're still helping babies and their families, and you have a vast amount of knowledge and expertise that you are bringing with you to that new setting. Sometimes, level 2 gets a bad rap - seen as the "failure" position, which simply isn't true. Plus, if you feel it will make you happier, why not do it?

I will have to agree with littleneoRN that some of the level 2 parents are much more controlling and/or needy than their level 3 counterparts. When they are unable to complete feeds or the baby has brady during the countdown, some parents can get quite upset at us for those things.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

I wasn't saying that I'm a failure by going to level 2, I meant I feel like I'm failing at level 3, because I thought I would be at this job forever. I have a hard time with change. I've worked at level 2 before, so I'm familiar with it. I'm hoping I will get enough hours, since it's on-call...but I can always work at both places.

I know what you mean about the parents, I think they can be difficult in both level 2 and 3 babies. I guess that's a part of the job that's been difficult for me lately. I'm tired of answering the same questions, and I don't care for the manipulative parents who ask the same questions to many different nurses to see if they get the same answers. ugh. Burn out for sure!

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Ok everyone, I did it! I turned in the paperwork today to work at the new place. I'm nervous, but I think I will get enough work between 2 places...the majority will be at a Level 2.....so happy, but scared...being on call can be risky.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in level 3 NICU.

omg!!! some days the parents are more of a challenge than the sickest baby! i would rather take care of a 400gram infant with 20 gtts, hfv, blood products and q1h gases who's parent don't or can't visit, than a kid who parents are there to watch him grow cell by cell, and will not give you one second to even look at another infant. what i have come to realize people are not getting any smater, they lack comom sense and comon curtesy. most of the parents can not process that the baby in the next isolette is coding & dying while the are asking you for a blanket or to wipe a guber from the baby's nose. i like the off shifts, to avoid visitors. best of luck in level 2!

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