Guest716906

@kbrn2002 thanks so much! I reported the neck injury and filed a workmans comp claim. I am now working light duty. I feel so much better. Next week I have an interview for an insurance case manager and a hospital case manager, hopefully I can land one of those jobs and put in my 2 weeks asap. I know I can at least make it 2 more weeks. I feel better but it still scares me that things have gotten this bad. I have had a rocky road with nursing. I really hope my next job is good, and I find my place in the nursing world!

@Kooky Korky Thank you. I actually went to work today and ended up hurting my neck, so I will go to the doctor and tell my manager. Hopefully I can have some time to recover. I'm pretty upset tonight though. I pushed myself too far and now my back and neck are killing me, it's not worth it. Hopefully I can have some time off and land a new job by then. But if not, I just have no idea. I don't think I can go back after this. I feel so abused and taken advantage of. My old job in med surg tele made me feel like this as well after 4 years. I just want a normal job where I don't have to kill myself.

@Katie82 That sounds like a good job. So you work for an insurance company? My question is, how did you get into that job? What kind of prior experience did you have? I have 10 months in to this job but I am about to put my 2 weeks in. My back hurts too much from all the heavy lifting and I am working unpaid overtime finishing charting. Do you think 10 mos of experience in my current job could get me another job as a case manager?

@carebear01 I am full time. And OK that sounds like a good idea

Thank you all so much! All your responses help so much. I didn't put in my 2 weeks.. I'm trying to stay. However today I just couldn't get out of bed. I'm at work now, super late. So behind on all my charting. My caseload is so heavy today and my back just hurts so bad. These patients are all so heavy and I'm always alone at their houses turning them, cleaning etc. I think I just have to look into FMLA. I'm just having worse and worse back pain. Any advice on how I should go about this? Our company is already short staffed and has lost 2 nurses. Another one keeps calling off. I'm trying to take a break. Something is very wrong at this company ?

Ryamanell: that sounds perfect for me. I would love that. I looked online, wasn't seeing many hospital cm jobs. I applied to 2. Do you think they would hire me with 9 mos hospice cm experience?

Hello, I have been a nurse for 5 years. 4 years med surg telemetry. 9 months hospice case management. I'm totally burnt out on hands on patient care. I want to work in an office. I want to work at a desk. I just cant do hands on patient care anymore. I'm applying to all kinds of hands off patient care jobs, barely any jobs are contacting me back. It's taking forever to secure another job. I want to put my 2 weeks in at this job tomorrow. I have bills but I'm about to just use a credit card until I can secure another job. I just cant work here 1 more day. I'm at my wits end. Please help ?

WOW! thanks for that response. I agree that the job title is misleading.. I do feel just like a clinical nurse in the hospital again only without extra help at patients homes, I'm driving all the time, and on top of it dealing with medical care and coordination, insurance and billing issues, etc. This job is way too much. I will apply to other case management jobs and see how that goes. I love the critical thinking part of my job, and educating patients and families. Hate the hands on nursing care.

Hello, I was just wondering. I was a med surg tele nurse for 4 years, and I have been a hospice case management nurse for 8 mos now. I do a ton of wound care, incontinence care, foley insertions, enemas, heavy lifting, etc. I am totally burned out. I want a nursing job requiring little to no hands on patient care, non bedside. However when I ask other people what I should look for, they say case management. My question is, how is my case management job different from other cm jobs? Should I apply for another cm job, since I already have 8 mos experience under my belt? Thanks!

Hello, I am 27 and have been a nurse for 5 years, 4 years med surg tele travel and 1 year hospice. I have been pretty unhappy with my nursing jobs through the years. I finally realized that I love the mental part of nursing and healthcare, I always love learning and educating patients. However, I hate the hands on part of nursing, I hate wound care and incontinence care, heavy lifting, always being on my feet. It burns out over and over again even though I keep changing jobs and trying different things. I want to work more with my knowledge and brain and less with my body. What should I do? I'm willing to go back to school. Thanks!

Thanks for all your responses! I haven't thought about procedural roles, dont they require a lot of standing/hard on your feet? I could look into public health. I have my associates, want to go back for my bsn and maybe masters but I dont know what to specialize in. And yes maybe I could go back to the hospital on a different unit. I just feel so lost lately. I used to love being a nurse but I'm tired of taking care of sick people and body fluids, etc. Lol ? it's weird

I haven't really thought of that, what are the hours like? Dont those jobs require a lot of standing?

Hello, I am just wondering. When you have a patient who has a pressure ulcer on the coccyx and a wet to dry dressing order, do you use sterile technique? I was taught in nursing school that sterile technique was always required for wet to dry dressing. However when I have a patient constantly pooping and soiling their dressing, it feels like a huge waste of time and resources , and I should have just used clean technique. Any thoughts?

Thanks for these responses!! It really helps. I'm not sure what direction to go in.. I love being a nurse and working on the units. Just wish my body could keep up:/ I don't want to leave the hospital but everyone tells me all units have the same issues. Low staffing, burn out, patient satisfaction score, feeling more like a waitress than a nurse. I wish we could just be nurses

Hello, I'm just looking for some input. I'm planning on getting out if Med Surg Tele ASAP. I am 1000% burnt out. My question is.. what should I go for next? I have thought about ED, PACU, informatics, outpatient, ICU... A lot of the specialties interest me. The thing I have to avoid though is working so short staffed and being expected to complete so much physical and mental work done in one shift without any help/resources. My body just can't handle it anymore. And I'm 25.

Agreed.. ADEQUATE STAFFING AND BREAKS. those 2 things right there prevent burnout. In my 4 years of nursing, those floors have the nurses that stay the longest. It's rare to find units like that though. And nurses should not need counseling to just go to work. They should feel happy and comfortable at work!

Congratulations for getting out!! I can relate 100%. I'm also 25 and my body is shot from all the times working with inadequate staff (4 years). My anxiety and depression are through the roof from the emotional stress/abuse/no appreciation or understanding. I hope you love case mgmt. I'm applying for new jobs too.. anything but med surg tele or step down.

Hello, I was just wondering what you guys think of ER vs. Med surg /tele. I have worked med surg tele for 3 years and I am truly burnt out. It's barely possible to get all the tasks done in one shift and if one thing goes wrong/people refuse things it's as if you didn't get enough done. It feeling impossible anymore! I'm thinking about switching to ER.. I know it's crazy busy too but I have the idea that it's more stabilize the patient and send them up is the priority. Not mountains of small and large orders to accomplish on 4 or 5 patients + all the charting in 1 12 hour shift. Advice??

I have worked 5 jobs in med surg tele. The jobs with staffing issues and sending too high acuity patients I always would leave late. 15min-30min-1hr. Some jobs if the staffing is good and patient a acuity is appropriate I leave on time.

Hello, I can relate a little to this. My advice is try med surg first. It's VERY chaotic but not quite as anxiety provoking as the patients are not quite as sick as tele/icu/stepdown. Work your way up so you feel comfortable. Also ASK ASK ASK nurses at other hospitals what is it REALLY like to work there. Find a hospital that seems a little decent. A lot of places I have worked at are just straight up dangerous and I barely survived. I have been doing tele for 3 years now and super burned out, but ready to switch to ICU or ED. I hope this helps Also* I would not advise LTC or SNF, I have heard you can get up to 20 patients.. my hats off to those nurses. I couldn't make it 5 minutes

Haha thank you! I appreciate that. :) yes maybe ed. Tele is all I have ever known!

Why do you say you would never make it on the floor? I'm HIGHLY considering ED, but I have no idea what to expect

Thank you! That helps a lot :)

Hello, So I have been a med surg tele nurse for 3 years now, and I'm 100% burnt out. Time to switch specialties! Any advice on what is better specialize in? I love - performing skills. I don't mind running around, I love being with patients and assessing them. I love knowing all I can about them/what's going on with them. I hate - The insane amounts of charting in med surg tele. The customer service of med surg Tele / having to act like I have time to get ice water/ new blankets.. I want to be able to be honest and be able to truly prioritize. (My CNA doesn't answer call lights ever only me.) I don't mind being stretched thin and running all over, but don't expect me to do loads of charting and get turns done q2h, reassess pain right in the time frame, be a waitress and pretend I have time.

Mst= med surg tele