Wbm33

This is comforting to read that you’ve moved to PACU and have a better work life. You and JKL33 totally hit the nail on the head regarding all the stressors of the ED that take a mental and physical toll on nurses. It’s a big problem and such a shame that we can’t continue in a field we love bc of the unrealistic demands and expectations of the job. So now I have an interview for outpatient IR coming up. Part of me is feeling excited to make a change, the other part of me can’t comprehend the schedule. Mon-Fri 7-330. Nice that there’s no weekends but I will be missing my quiet weekdays off. Going from 3 shifts a week to 5 seems crazy! But at the end of the day the recovery period from just one 12 hr ED shift is probably much longer than an 8 hr in IR (I hope!)... and anyway, I don’t know if this position will pan out, as I’m in the early stages of interviewing. I’m just happy that I have the ball rolling on the job hunt.

Over a year later, but I am reading back to this chain as I’m reflecting on my next moves. Everyone had such thoughtful and helpful responses. I did eventually make the change to ED day shift! It is much better for my personal life and my sleep/health. Totally worth the pay cut. I’m glad I did it and wish I did it sooner. However I do feel very burnt out still and dread coming into work. I’ve been on days for many months now. I think my next move should be to leave the ED completely.

Thanks for your post! I love your perspective on this. These words and words your friend told you are what I need to keep repeating to myself. It’s all so true and I need to keep reminding myself it’s not a sign of failure or “I couldn’t hack it” if I leave. I interviewed and shadowed some other jobs and I can totally relate to how boring you found other jobs. After a shadow i’d feel like I couldn’t wait to go back to the ED. For about a month it gave me a new appreciation for the adventures of the ED. I felt like I could never go elsewhere, and I don’t know what I was thinking trying to leave. But now the job is starting to weigh on me again. It took one bad patient/case to just suck the life right out of me all over again. The job is endless highs and lows. It’s very emotionally and physically taxing. Do you mind sharing what kind of job you’re in now?

You’re spot on. I think staying healthy in this job long term would honestly require a therapist to help me achieve this. It is something that takes work, and not just a few personal days here and there. It would really be changing a pattern of thinking, which is something that is very engrained in all of us. Not an overnight fix.

I think about the ICU, PACU and IR. I worry that I’ll job hop too much which won’t look good on my resume. As a new grad I worked 1.5 years in infusion before starting ED. I was bored to tears and always wanted ED, so it was a great transition. But that’s already two jobs in 3 years. When I started ED I loved it and wanted to retire as an ED nurse. Its disappointing to want to change again so soon.

Oh man you are right “the ER does not love you back.” That puts it in perspective. I put everything I have into that place and its really not giving me much. It’s not worth losing my joys in life over it. Maybe a day job ICU could be a better fit...I appreciate your post coming from someone who’s left the ED. Thank you

Thank you, llg, PhD, RN. I work 36 hrs/wk now. I stopped doing doubles or any OT to try to scale my hours down. I don’t think my paycheck can afford to cut back standard hours, as much as I’d like to do that. I also can’t afford to lose my night differential and go to days to achieve better sleep. I’m thinking of switching specialties though I don’t know which yet, and doing ED per Diem. I’m nervous that I may regret leaving because I feel like I’m “giving up.” And I’m really stubborn ? I hate feeling like I quit something because it was hard.

I have worked in an ER for a little over a year and a half now, doing permanent nights. I love the adrenaline, the codes, traumas, and really sick people. I’ve been pushed to new limits and gained so much confidence. I learned how to voice my concerns, opinions, and a big one: how to say no and set limits with people. But now, the honeymoon phase is over and it’s not all new and exciting. Daily I feel beaten into the ground. When I try to explain how I feel about my job, the best way I can put it is, “it’s sucking the life out of me.” I used to be a really naive, docile person who wanted to please. I don’t feel that innocence anymore. I feel cold, jaded and emotionless. I still love the teamwork (I work with a great crew) and the codes, critical pts, etc. but I don’t know if that’s enough to keep me in the game. I’m depressed, my sleep is profoundly messed up and I never feel physically energized or well. I love the ER but it’s becoming toxic for me. I don’t want to go into work every day to be belittled, verbally and physically abused by patients and their families. I’ve seen some sad things happen to patients that I have trouble forgetting. I feel like my nervous system is shocked and burnt out. I don’t know where else to go. I don’t want to switch jobs and lose my skills and I will miss to critical care aspect. Yet I don’t want to stay and lose my darn mind. Do other people have experiences like this where they stayed and they got over it? Where else have others gone after ED that gives them a better work-life balance? I feel so lost and frustrated...any response helps!!