SO Exhausted

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

I also do 12 hr ER shifts....today is day off after 2 11-11 shifts in a row. I have a love/hate relationship with my 12s. Right now I'm trying to get the strength up to hit the gym. Mind over matter, right?

I had an awful day at work on Saturday - we had a big trauma with 4 level ones coming in at once, 2 who died. Went home and just crashed. Went back yesterday and thankfully we had a lot of patients, but I had no real sick ppl. By the last 4 hours yesterday, I know I COULD have cared for a critical patient (you just do it) but really would have preferred to just go home and get in bed! I definitely find that I'm less compassionate at the end of my shift though! (But if you're nice to me, I'll always be nice to you)

I work with a nurse who went to 8 hr shifts last year. She says she stops caring after 8....lol. I can see what she means :) Some days I stop caring after 2!

And by the way - I have a feeling the dept might call today for extra help. My cell is on the fritz (it works, I just can't see who is calling me!) so I am terrified to answer the phone today. Looks like voice mail will screen all my calls today!

ernurse2244 · Jul 31, 2006

I am trying to recover from 3 12's + in a row. Our county population tripled over the past 10 days due to a local fair that has a big draw. No extra staffing this weekend. At 61 I am too old for this s***. But in normal times I love my work, usually know almost everyone who comes in because this is a really small town. Guess we take the hard times with the easy ones. Count my blessings that I can still work in top gear.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2006

I swear when i started in the ED, i NEVER thought i would have to work as hard as i do. I'm sitting here, my feet are THROBBING. I work 11a-11p, and i didn't get lunch until 930pm. AND it was a 15 minute one to boot. One bathroom break. And i had an average of 5-6 patients ALL night, some very critical, some not.
No wonder burnout is a major problem for ER. I HURT ALL OVER!!!!
ok am over it. i'll shut up now. :rotfl:

And your point is, what.

Welcome to the wonderfull world of ER nursing:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

SnowymtnRN · Aug 1, 2006

And your point is, what.
Welcome to the wonderfull world of ER nursing:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

My point is...OUCH! lol My bones is achin'! lol

LoriAlabamaRN · Aug 1, 2006

ER nurses have my complete respect.

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

I work two 16 hour shifts a week in our ER. 32 hrs is minimum for fulltime benefits and it allows me to only be away from my daughter 2 nights a week.... but man-oh-man.... I feel like I've been rode hard and put up wet at 7am!!

Most of my co-workers do 7 on and 7 off....(that's TWELVE HOUR SHIFTS)

No way I could do that!

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

I work two 16 hour shifts a week in our ER. 32 hrs is minimum for fulltime benefits and it allows me to only be away from my daughter 2 nights a week.... but man-oh-man.... I feel like I've been rode hard and put up wet at 7am!!
Most of my co-workers do 7 on and 7 off....(that's TWELVE HOUR SHIFTS)
No way I could do that!

OUCH!!! Just reading your post made me hurt. I'm not sure I would want to be your patient at 0600 after 15 hrs on, but you gotta do what you gotta do :)

My husband works as a pilot for an medical helicopter company and brings me a lot of my criticals/traumas. They do 7 12s on and 7 12s off, but they aren't working the whole time they're at work (something I never let him forget when he says "you shouldn't be tired....I do 12s too).

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Aug 2, 2006

I'm not sure I would want to be your patient at 0600 after 15 hrs on

Actually, that is when the early AM major MI's roll through the door... no matter what time it is or how tired I am, something "clicks" when I need to be at my best. There are a few people walking around out there that was glad I was their nurse:rolleyes:

Happy-ER-RN, RN · Aug 4, 2006

Get some really good shoes and put Dr. Sholls inserts in them. I wear year old crocs with inserts and my feet almost never hurt, now I mention they are a year old because I bought some new ones and the plastic is hard/cheaper and they did make my feet hurt, jerks.

I hate working 12s because they wear me out, but, I love having four days off every week, how many people get that much time off, true, one of those days are usually spent recovering, but even three days off is better than most people. I have gone out of town or on trips probably eight times this summer since my schedule will allow it, I love it! Did I mention I don't have kids? Ahhhhh.......

vampireslayer · Aug 8, 2006

Just wanted to ditto the above post...really really really look into different shoes! No kidding, you may be exhausted after a 12 hour shift, that's certainly understandable, but your feet/legs shouldn't ache. Mine did, when I started ER, and at first I thought that was just part of being on my feet all day...but honestly, I tried a few different shoes and they all had some things I liked, some things that I didn't, but with good shoes, your legs really don't ache!

It all depends on the person, but my New Balance made my legs ache all the way up. My Easy Spirit were AWESOME, I loved them, except they had a very small rub against my little toes...that eventually caused the toes to get calluses, which caused the rub to be more and more painful as the calluses got bigger. Never was sure if that was considered a "corn" or what, but anyway, those shoes were great, but I guess my feet were too wide for them.

Now I'm wearing Crocs and have not had any trouble at all with those. Lots of people really swear by Crocs, you can buy them easily at crocs.com, they're not super expensive and it's sure worth a try.

Honestly, I know it's tough to be on your feet all day, and exhaustion can be expected, but the shoes can really make a big difference.

VS

crb613, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2006

Just wanted to ditto the above post...really really really look into different shoes! No kidding, you may be exhausted after a 12 hour shift, that's certainly understandable, but your feet/legs shouldn't ache. Mine did, when I started ER, and at first I thought that was just part of being on my feet all day...but honestly, I tried a few different shoes and they all had some things I liked, some things that I didn't, but with good shoes, your legs really don't ache!
It all depends on the person, but my New Balance made my legs ache all the way up. My Easy Spirit were AWESOME, I loved them, except they had a very small rub against my little toes...that eventually caused the toes to get calluses, which caused the rub to be more and more painful as the calluses got bigger. Never was sure if that was considered a "corn" or what, but anyway, those shoes were great, but I guess my feet were too wide for them.
Now I'm wearing Crocs and have not had any trouble at all with those. Lots of people really swear by Crocs, you can buy them easily at crocs.com, they're not super expensive and it's sure worth a try.
Honestly, I know it's tough to be on your feet all day, and exhaustion can be expected, but the shoes can really make a big difference.
VS

I guess all feet are not created equal! I hate Crocs....my feet are narrow. I work M/S,walk a lot, & really fast, and I loose them all the time. At first I thought I was going to like them, but after 12 hrs the sides of my feet were raw! I love Nike Shox w/Dr. Sholls inserts....legs & feet do not hurt after 3 12's :yeah:

oceania · Aug 8, 2006

I can relate, I have plantar fascitis in both heels and sometimes by the end of 12 hours I am limping! Lunch breaks?? I consider if lucky if I can sit down and eat something before a pt, family, or doc want something. Course there are only 2 RNs, 1 charge nurse and our doc on nights. It was pretty much the same when I worked med/surg, once in awhile a charge nurse would break us or we had enough RNs that you could walk away for awhile. I do love my job, but I can see how you could get burned out after awhile!