One year blues . . .

[MistyDawnRN06, BSN, RN]

Hey all!

I've been a nurse now for a little over a year. I work in a very busy, very high acuity SICU at a trauma/magnet/teaching facility.

I've just hit a burn-out right now. Love the job. Love the people I work with. But I've somehow hit a slump. The doctors are a big part of it. The new influx of med students in July is a part of it too. Everyone all of sudden seemed to develop the blues around here.

This is a difficult unit to work in. Very high acuity. But it is also incredibly rewarding. My learning curve the last year has been absolutely amazing. Many of the nurses I've started with though have flipped over to nights for better pay and less stress. Plus our retention rate for new orientees is low (probably less than 30%).

Has anyone else out there hit the one-year slump as I'm calling it? Just need a little encouragement to get over the hump . . .

Thanks!

Misty Dawn

[RNperdiem, RN]

I also work in a big SICU and know how busy it can be. Congratulations on getting through your first year.

Maybe it is time to take a vacation. If you are self-scheduling, and nights and weekends are a little less hectic, try working a couple of different shifts.

[blueberrybon]

I have been working in a peds doctors office for 8 months now, and whether or not you believe it, it has been CRAZY. Though my job is more along the lines of an MA, it is BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. I graduated nursing school in December 07, and have worked at this doctors office since. It is very busy. There isn't a lot of time to think. Most of the time, no breaks or lunches.

I just got a job at a nursing home on the sub-acute wing, which will be perfect for gaining experience doing LPN skills. The only LPN skills that I can say that I do at the doctors office are INJECTIONS galore! I must give any where between 20 - 50 injections/day. I'm not afraid of needles. I remember during clinicals how scared I was to give my first injection, wow, that seems like a life time ago with as many as I've given!

Any way, with all that said, if I continued on this course, I would certainly achieve burn out. But thankfully, I'm changing direction.

Maybe that's in store for you? A change of pace? Sounds like you do great in that area, but what about another area?

I'm just an LPN, but I've found out that we are in GREAT demand. Certainly RN's are in even greater demand. Pick an area and it's probably yours. Why not?

Let us know what you decide to do, and more importantly how you are doing.

Blue

[Christie RN2006]

I am at my one year mark and I have hit the "one year blues" as you call it... I also work in a SICU at a trauma hospital...well that is when I don't get floated census has been really low here lately, and I have been floated all over the hospital, so I think that is part of my problem. I am actually getting ready to head on a big trip, so hopefully that will help me get over this!!

[Mr. & Mrs. RN]

I'm a new grad, but my husband has been working for a year in CCU and ICU. He is definitely burnt out. The only advice I can give you is to think about what you do and don't like about your job and consider other jobs that will fit your personality better. There are so many different jobs for nurses. Try looking beyond hospitals, also. I love my job at an ambulatory surgery clinic. My husband is very analytical and intelligent, unlike me, and he dislikes taking care of the same patient night after night. He dislikes doing things like fetching water and wiping behinds, but loves studying tely and running codes and stuff like that. He has now applied for an ER position that will allow him to vary his patient load. I think it will fit him better. Hope he gets it. Good luck to you.

[RNnPROUD]

Congrats, on your one year. I am at the one year mark, and I think I just need to go to a different hospital; more challenging and more steady. Continue to do the great job that you do. However, don't over do it!! Take some time off .

RNnProud:balloons: