childpsych74

R.S., first go to your medical doctor. They can test your thyroid and make sure that isn't an issue. You can work with your medical doctor for diagnose or get referral to a psychiatrist and/or psychologist (for psychological testing). You don't have to tell anyone you don't want to, if you're 18 or older, that is.

and where does it all start? At the university level. Colleges thinking they can pay nurses less than "real professors," not give them tenor or even a living wage. Professors can make more $ on the the floor! The reason nursing is so bad is because we are not united. The MD's have the AMA...nurses have the ANA. We all know the ANA is not a powerful force because half the nurses I know don't belong. Nurses are the "sleeping giant" - everyone knows a nurse but we're either raising our kids, or have left the profession. We are mothers, wifes, fathers, husbands trying to have a life outside nursing. So, if every nurse banded together, we would have better working conditions. But that's unrealistic. And the more nurses they are bringing to from foreign countries who are just thankful to be here are earning a living wage, the worse it's going to get (I'm not against foreign recruiting but not a substitute for solving our nursing problems here) I left the profession after 9 years, most of which was in ICU. I loved my coworkers and miss them. But it is backbreaking work and it is hard having the life sucked out of you by family members, being understaffed, etc. There are so many problems in nursing. I know the students who use these forums know that and are expecting it.

thanks, I'll try doing some searches in UR.

No, run away...fast. Just kidding Like all jobs, there will be good days and bad days. Unlike other jobs, people's lives are in your hands. You can't afford to have an "off" day and veg out in a cubicle. Nursing was definitely NOT for me. And I was aide in nursing school. My instructors even told me, "Nursing doesn't seem like a good fit for you" and I wish I had listened. What do others tell you? Like Adam, give their opinions weight. I was a nurse for 9 years, mostly in ICU. Because I'm not a "people-person" I burned out after 9 years. But I'm glad I still have my license and can "fall back" on it if I need to. Right now, I'm trying to break into Utlization Review/Case Management part-time while I homeschool our kids. That's the beauty of nursing, you can switch areas so easily. It is one of the HARDEST, least appreciated professions. But if it's what you want, you will make the best of it.

I worked with an ICU RN who was a Critical Care MD in her country (china). She said the same thing about working as a MD here. I think she sat for the NCLEX and was in no problem. We were always curious how they did things in China, o.k. we KNEW she was smarter than us, and it didn't matter. We kinda soaked it up and learned a lot. But we NEVER felt like we excluded her or felt she felt she was better than us. She needed to practice her english and was glad to talk. Good luck! I think it's awesome. I don't think you should hide it.

I worked ICU for 4 years before I got burned out (with nursing in general), moved to the country to homeschool our kids and raise goats and chickens. I quit work only a few months ago and honestly, I miss the camraderie. I miss the sarcasm that accompanies some of the medical decisions, the pushing of code drugs on a DNR because the physician justifies that if we correct the underlying bradycardia with atropine, give a mega dose of Lasix and intubate the patient, that will also cure the terminal cancer. I miss the team baths we'd give to the filthy ER admits. I miss the banter. It is the most team-oriented part of nursing. I miss being able to tell the physician on rounds what the patient needs and him actually writing it. I hated the families. We had an open unit for the most part and I hated the fact that the families researched everything on the internet, questioned every little thing down to stool softener choice, and generally wouldn't stay out of your face for 2 seconds. The families burned me out....and I worked nights. But I miss my wonderful coworkers. Would I recommend it - yes, if you have to be a nurse, ICU is the place to be. You see lives saved and end. You see the direct results of your treatment. You generally get to care for one patient for days/weeks and get to know, and even care for, SOME of the families. Do it girl. I'm shy but you can't be shy in ICU. If you need help, you have to scream loud. I'm definitely more assertive having worked there.

Former ICU nurse looking to switch gears completely away from the bedside. Applied for several positions involving case management/UR with no call backs. Are these jobs hard to break into? Any recommendations on how to market myself? Take classes, that type of thing? It seems like all the case managers I knew were hired from in-house. Any advice?

get in the ICU ASAP. Most won't even consider you until you have at least 1 year ICU experience. Better to have more though, IMHO.

lol. I was so burnout in nursing I got out completely, after only 9 years. We moved to the country and we're raising goats and chickens while I drool on myself and homeschool our kids. I SOOO prefer animals to humans. Now I don't know if I'll ever go back to nursing, hope I won't have to but it's good to still keep my license up. I liked the jail one...it reminds me of driving home after 3 16 hour night shift in ICU and almost falling asleep, thinking, "Well, at least I'll get some sleep when I'm dead or in the hospital." Then I remembered how we just keep bugging people in the trauma bay and pulled myself together. In regards to nursing burnout, what is the average amount of years a nurse gets to burnout? And what can we do, if any, to prevent it?