So exhausted!?

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jun 9, 2016

I am also working full time (5*8hrs/wk) in a skilled nursing setting. Not Acute. But the residents are quite needy.

I am usually very exhausted when I leave. I wonder if I can even drive home, sometimes.

I've found that by the time I get home and sit down awhile, I feel slightly less tired.

I've also found that I feel slightly less tired each day/week. I've only been working about a month. So each day/week, I feel a little less drained.

I try to eat healthy. It helps. A good mix of protein, some carbs and fresh fruits/veggies daily.

I don't know how some people manage doubles. Or even go to the gym after work.

I am typically soooo tired!

But it's getting better.

I think exercise would help me to have better energy levels.

amoLucia · Jun 9, 2016

Sometimes it's the noise level that contributes to a negative effect - it just wears you down on top of everything else that is on you.

On your drive home, try listening to something calming/soothing. Not your usual preferred music - just make it something you like and won't make you be-bop at the top of your lungs as you drive. No brainer thinking!!!

And of course, don't text or cell-phone (if you can avoid it). There will be time later when you're home. You want to unwind.

When you get to your car, think back quick over your shift. Call your unit from your car if you've forgotten anything. The important thing is to leave work at work. Start decompressing as soon as possible.

And try to drink some water to re-hydrate yourself just before you leave. Nibble a cheese stick or a peanut butter cracker. Recharge yourself!

My suggestions hinge on the idea to utilize your 'post-job but pre-home' time to headstart your time off.

I found these things helped me.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 14, 2016

I am in LTAC and avoid working more than one shift in a row because even after two I am good for nuthin' for the next day, and I am in grad school full time.

I too found LTAC more exaustive than ICU, even with our excellent aides. It seems to be not so much physical as mental thing. I think it has something to do with incredible complexity of these patients and necessity for a nurse to keep all threads together and untangled, so to say. It is quite usual when I need to do a couple of mental checks before checking out each med for each patient, and there can be twenty meds per head in just one pass. Or the fact of unexpected and unexplained platelets dropping (happened to be HIT), which made me calling and explaining stuff to five docs and one HD RN, all in less than an hour, with another guy trying his ****edest to go to code.

Someone here named LTAC "med/surg on steroids". At least some ofthese units seem to be nicely spiced with ICU, and with some absolutely unreasonable and unruled patients/families thrown into the mix for some additional crunch.

OP, you were given an excellent advice... only can add that if you seem to have a little hobby or something which helps you unwind and doesn't do anything detrimentally bad for your health, then do it. I cook like crazy when I got a few hours, it helps :yes:

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Aug 6, 2016

I do three 12's a week, and while the LTAC environment is very busy and can be really intense, I mostly attribute my exhaustion after 12 hours to the fact that I'm simply getting old, and I need new hips.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2016

Hmm I thought I replied to this when you first posted... I used to work in LTACH and found it beyond exhausting. I wasn't even full time! KatieMI hit the nail on the head, that it's so much mental activity with the complexity.

If the pt has huge wound care, that does take a toll physically. Where I was, most of us worked alone so could mean up to two hours of bending, holding leg or pannus...not to mention causing pain. Nurses generally don't get into it to hurt people, but sometimes even with pushing fentanyl and versed the wound care is still painful. That can take a toll mentally.

Add on the families who have been through the ringer, plus pt coming from ICU to LTACH. Acuity is lots of times too high to transfer to a step-down/progressive unit, but LTACH has med-surg ratios.

amoLucia had some good suggestions

Is working 3 12's an option? You may be more tired on your working day, but when you've worked that long it's expected that you should go to sleep when you get home. Plus you won't feel like you're alllllways at work.