Nurses quitting jobs

verene, MSN · Dec 22, 2016

Yes, particularly when I started this journey. It's part of why I was okay taking a long time to get through my pre-reqs. It gave me time to think and really explore the career path I was getting into as well as give myself plenty of time to look at the other options out there that may be more appealing to me. I left my prior profession due in large part to burn out (both professional and personal) and didn't want to face the same situation again. When I returned to working I chose to enter health care as a CNA. Partly because it was a job when I needed one, but also to give myself more insights into the world of healthcare and healthcare related professions.

Many of the nurses I have spoken to along this path have discussed burn out. One of the biggest pieces of advice I've received is to be aware of one's self and the potential for burn out. These nurses, my health care employers, and the nursing program I'm in have all stressed the importance of self-care. Of knowing when to take a step back and take care of yourself and of integrating self-care into your daily routine. Hopefully the program you enter will support you in learning good self-care habits while in school.

Another piece of advice I was given before entering the nursing program was to write down my motivations for being a nurse. That in times of stress - both in school and after - to pull out that list of motivations and read it. To use it as a reminder of the that excitement and passion, to rekindle those feelings. So far it's worked for me.

After 3 years as a CNA and now as a nursing student I feel relatively confident that while I will undoubtedly go through rough times in my career ahead, I also have the resources, supports and self-awareness to protect myself during those times. I need to be aware of compassion fatigue and the risk for burn out and be proactive in caring for myself to avoid them; this isn't the same as actively fearing them.

I think that just by being aware that there is the potential for burn out and having realistic expectations of the work one can do a lot to alleviate the risk.

EDIT: As you've got a couple of years before starting nursing school I highly recommend using the time to learn as much about nursing as you can. Volunteer if you have the time, shadow, talk to nurses you meet. I think the more information you have the better. It keeps your expectations realistic and can alleviate concerns.

OliveOyl91, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2016

I've been working as a CNA for almost three years and have personally experienced the burn out that can occur in nursing. Personally, I've made some of my closest friends at work (fellow CNAs, nurses, etc...) and it's those friendships that can really help with the burn. What keeps me going during those tough patches are my friends, especially my fellow nursing staff. I don't want to leave them hanging and if a night is particularly rough, we all meet up for some food before we go home. A bunch of us signed up for a gym membership together and made it a routine to meet up after work a couple times a week for an hour or so.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Dec 23, 2016

I think it's the nature of the internet. People don't talk nearly as much when they are happy as when they are upset. So IMO we're not seeing the whole spectrum, but rather one end of it. It really threw me for a loop when I joined here, too - so I get it. Just try to keep your head up!

compassionresearcher · Dec 28, 2016

I think it's a combination of personal resilience, luck, and finding a specialty that's a good fit for your skills-set and personal strengths. I know people who hated acute care but thrived in primary care or home health and vice versa. I tolerated acute care but didn't like some of the systemic issues of healthcare. For the last 15 years I've been much happier in my career.