nurse burnout

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I have been an RN for 12 yrs and fed up with the profession right now. I have done mostly Telemetry and GI/Pulmonary lab in the hospital setting and getting really tired of it. I would love to do anything that is not bedside care at this time. I have applied for Case management, bariatric coordinator and diabetic educator but have had no luck. I have a BSN and a MS in nutrition but still no luck in finding the right kind of job. I believe after awhile, you get tired of how the hospitals treat nurses and the added responsibility they lay on you. Even working in Magnet hospitals are not any better, they want you to get involved in shared govenance and career fairs or make posters, and they continue to ignore patient/staff ratio's--instead of 5 to 1 they still consider 6 to 1--it is an act of disrespect and they do not care who knows it. I think nursing has gotten harder over the years and I am sick of it. I am willing to get away from bedside at all cost-the pastures may not be any greener but at least I am making a choice and trying to preserve what I can out of this profession. There are many things a nurse could do in this profession, but you have to find your niche and have thick skin sometimes, it is not going to be easy anywhere you go, but you do have choices.

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i know i haven't experienced a lot yet and my comment won't weigh much. but reading your entry is an envy for me. You find your job like a routine already and how I wish I could be one in the future. Consider yourself lucky coz here in our country we have nurses who experience 10: 1 ratio because of problems in gov't fund. We have no choice but deal with it coz we need experience so we can apply to other countries for a greener pasture. Maybe God is just waiting for the right time to give you the position you've been applying for. Just pray..! :)

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

BTDT in nursing with burnout. Not a fun place to be. I ended up back in the same dept just a different hospital. I found out it wasn't the speciality being the problem, it was the hospital.

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Specializes in surgical,urology, ENT.

Hey, i think i have burntout syndrome too...i had been working in the same department for 7 years...and it's talking a toll on me...i was dejected and unmotivated and tired just plain tired. It's hard doing the same thing over and over again, and when you feel everyone else is moving on to a better place, you felt left behind, and the extra job scope expansion doesnt help and management sometimes dun appreciated your work. I drag myself to work every day...then i remembered allnurses.com and remember posting something in the nursing student column, i open it after so long and read what i written, i remember back why i joined this profession. I felt jaded very jaded and it lead me to feel uncaring not to my patients but i think to myself.

You are right, we all have decision and i wish for you to make a wise choice for yourself...if it's not working for you, the leave to explore better potential.

thanks for posting, it helps me to think alot about my carrer choice in nursing...:)

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Specializes in this and that.

I have no advice but hoping you feel better...:) As an older experienced nurse...jobs are hard to find ..the bills have to be paid...I just go to work and bend over.....

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Is it the actual practice of nursing you don't like, or is it the employer you don't like?

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Have you considered NP? It would only take you about 2 years full-time and with all those years of nursing experiance you would make an awesome NP! Then you can still stay in nursing doing what you love and what you went into nursing for, but will maybe have to deal with less crappy treatment.

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Specializes in ICU.

You definitely sound burnt out. You do need a change. You sound like with your education and background bariatric coordinator would be a good fit. Keep trying.

I have been trying to break into case management myself, and it's almost impossible, at least within the hospital. Try insurance companies. Seems to be the place to start with case management.

Keep trying, something will come your way. I was at the bedside for 5 years, then went into management (big mistake) and have been unempolyed for 5 months. I knew the bedside wasn't going to work with my lifestyle anymore. I got a position as an outcomes manager in a cath and vascular lab. Start Monday. At the same time, I got a per diem position as a clincal education consultant with a big medical device company.

I lost hope for a big while and thought I would have to go back to the bedside. You have great education, I only have my Associates. There is something out there for you, keep looking!

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I have no advice but hoping you feel better...:) As an older experienced nurse...jobs are hard to find ..the bills have to be paid...I just go to work and bend over.....

That made me teh laugherz. :)

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I agree nursing has changed tremendously in the past 5-6 years especially. I knew it would as time went on but with the economy as it is, the high turn over of patients because they are getting discharged earlier because of reimbursement..well, I'm preaching to the choir here. The 12 hr shifts have become 14-16..acuity is high and because there patients are more ill there is no "trying to even out the load." I too am trying to find something that is no longer bedside nursing. There are opportunities out there but they are difficult to come by. With have a degree in nutrition though you could look to LTC or hospice. Good luck - hope you find something soon!

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Specializes in LTC, Pediatrics, Renal Med/Surg.

I'm glad someone admitted that nursing has gotten harder. You'd think that we new nurses are just not being taught anything but I think the schools haven't caught up with the changes that have occured in practice.

I pray that you find something you like better. With all your experience and education you'd think it would be much easier for you.:hug:

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I expected to open this thread and find a mean, bitter nurse with nothing but complaints. Instead, I found an emotionally healthy, knowledgeable nurse who knows when it's time to make some changes so to avoid unsatisfactory patient care. KUDOS TO YOU!

Hang in there, you can do it ;)

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