SRFNNRS

Wow, what an eye full from all the responses to this posting. I'm an RN of 30yrs, and have been fighting burnout for most of them. I guess the only thing besides a paycheck that keeps me going in a relatively thankless profession, is the response I get from some patients. Amidst the bureaucratic and administrative jungle we all have to work in, the people that need us the most, give us the most. Job satisfaction comes in many forms. Smiles, verbal Thank Yous, a nod of the head, a handshake, a wink, etc. Policies, procedures, paperwork, and short staffing are all symptoms of the system, and not why we became nurses in the first place. No one ever said it was going to be easy! Unfortunately, a bad day at the office for us has much more impact than most people realize. It may not be a consolation to many nurses, but, believe me, many patients will remember you a long time after they've recovered from whatever led them to the hospital in the first place. We do make a difference! We are also all replaceable. So, do what you can to leave your mark. Learning how to make adjustments to what we have to deal with is the key. I don't have all the answers. Try to leave work at work, and remember that you're not all about what you do to earn a living. You're all, so much more! Good Luck to all on their journey.