Advice for combating burnout & compassion fatigue?

Are you saying your current position away from the bedside is not sustainable for financial reasons or because you don't perceive you are getting better emotionally?

Does anyone have practical, cost effective strategies for how to manage and help heal from burnout and compassion fatigue?

My heart goes out to you, CaffeinePOQ4HPRN. I had similar symptoms back in '98 after a stabbing by a client diagnosed with schizophrenia. I also had, around the same time, been a first responder at a fatal MVA, had been diagnosed with a cancerous colon polyp, and had a $50,000 civil suit against me.

I returned to work about a week after the stabbing, attended the morning meeting, went to my desk and broke down crying. The facility paid for 3 visits with a therapist which helped a little. Perhaps your place of employment has an EAP with therapy services?

What really helped me, and was cost-efficient was a program of working with an art therapist and a healthy lifestyle.

The therapist and I worked out a deal where I had to pay only $30 a session for which I attended every two weeks for six months. I was given exercises in expressing my thoughts and feelings through art and then went over these exercises in the sessions.

I exercised at a gym regularly. My workout sessions were from 40 minutes to 3 hours. The more emotional I was, the longer the workouts. While doing aerobic exercise, I made the physical discomfort match my emotional pain.

I worked a 12 step program through EA, Emotions Anonymous. The meetings, of course, are free and the program offers great guidelines on how to realistically deal with your emotions.

If there's anything I can do to assist you CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, do not hesitate to contact me.

The very,very best to you.

Sound advice by Davey and Sally...one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. You can!