Thanks for the encouragement

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Specializes in LTC.

I have been nursing 9 years and have been suffering from burn out. I just want to say thanks to all of you. Reading your posts has reminded me of why I became a nurse in the first place. It was to help as many people as I can while I'm on the earth. Its the times when we can do the so called little things, like retrieving someones teeth,taking the time to sit and comfort patients when they need it and making a difference in a pts quality of life that makes the BS we go through to do our jobs a little more bearable. I have been thinking of leaving the profession but honestly I would miss nursing. Thanks again to all of you nurses who have the heart to go the extra mile to make a difference in someone's life. You are an inspiration.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I have a feeling you're also one of those with heart to go the extra mile to make a difference as well. Take care and watch that burnout. :)

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i too agree with tweety.

because it is those personal, seemingly trivial gestures we do for our patients that mean the world to them.

and it gives us our 1:1 time with them.

i just finished a 12 hour shift.

from 7p-11p i leisurely did the meds and fell behind because i was chatting away to different patients.

then from 11p-7a i did treatments and various forms of crisis mgmt. but it was all great, just wonderful....

contrasted with one noc last week where it was the noc from hell;

i was on a unit where there was no teamwork, i was drowning, totally overwhelmed w/o any support system.

that was the type of noc that i would have gladly quit nsg.

but thank God we don't act on our impulses and do acknowledge that most of us truly embrace and honor what we do as nurses.

wishing you peace,

leslie

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Yes, you sometimes have to focus on the small good things in ANY line of work to take satisfaction and prevent burnout. This would apply to daily life as well. I am glad you are feeling better!

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I have a feeling you're also one of those with heart to go the extra mile to make a difference as well. Take care and watch that burnout. :)

Your statement is so very true.

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I don't know how hard or bad it can get (yet), but as someone who has been on the receiving side of care once before, and seen my mom in the hospital twice due to diabetes complications (and I am now going to pursue a nursing career myself), I want to encourage all who are burned out to know that you are truly appreciated by your patients!

My mom, who was in the hospital about 10 years ago, had a bad experience with two nurses being unable to find a vein in her arm (they simply poked and poked repeatedly until she cried out for another nurse!). Finally, when the third nurse came in, she was so soothing and gentle (and was able to find it on the first try!) that my mom said she was "like an angel."

As for me during my stay, thank God I had no such experience. I don't mind needles and I have good visible veins. :chuckle I do remember my nurses being the kindest ladies imaginable (I think I had three in all)! My friends were bringing me flowers (nice gesture, but without vases?) and 300-page books to read (after surgery, hello!!)...and my family crowded around my bed looking like a bunch of sad sacks!

So, I know this was their job, but I was actually relieved whenever my nurses came in to check on me (and give me a break from my family, ha ha). I appreciated every small gesture from my nurses -- things like bringing me a fresh cup of ice chips when I ran out (b/c I had no appetite), finding me an extra water pitcher to put those vase-less flowers in, bringing in a more comfortable chair for my fiance to sleep on, and being nice to him and not even minding that he was there the entire time (he stayed with me for four days and wouldn't leave the hospital).

So please, I know from personal experience that a good nurse -- caring, smart, compassionate, pleasant -- does a world of good for a patient!! You are very much appreciated, so hang in there and keep on smiling (your patients need it)!

:rolleyes:

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Specializes in LTC.
I don't know how hard or bad it can get (yet), but as someone who has been on the receiving side of care once before, and seen my mom in the hospital twice due to diabetes complications (and I am now going to pursue a nursing career myself), I want to encourage all who are burned out to know that you are truly appreciated by your patients!

My mom, who was in the hospital about 10 years ago, had a bad experience with two nurses being unable to find a vein in her arm (they simply poked and poked repeatedly until she cried out for another nurse!). Finally, when the third nurse came in, she was so soothing and gentle (and was able to find it on the first try!) that my mom said she was "like an angel."

As for me during my stay, thank God I had no such experience. I don't mind needles and I have good visible veins. :chuckle I do remember my nurses being the kindest ladies imaginable (I think I had three in all)! My friends were bringing me flowers (nice gesture, but without vases?) and 300-page books to read (after surgery, hello!!)...and my family crowded around my bed looking like a bunch of sad sacks!

So, I know this was their job, but I was actually relieved whenever my nurses came in to check on me (and give me a break from my family, ha ha). I appreciated every small gesture from my nurses -- things like bringing me a fresh cup of ice chips when I ran out (b/c I had no appetite), finding me an extra water pitcher to put those vase-less flowers in, bringing in a more comfortable chair for my fiance to sleep on, and being nice to him and not even minding that he was there the entire time (he stayed with me for four days and wouldn't leave the hospital).

So please, I know from personal experience that a good nurse -- caring, smart, compassionate, pleasant -- does a world of good for a patient!! You are very much appreciated, so hang in there and keep on smiling (your patients need it)!

:rolleyes:

I am glad that you had good nurses . I have seen nurses from hell that I wanted so badly to take the needle out of their hand because they felt the need to probe for a vein. I can't stand that.:angryfire

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Specializes in LTC.
I don't know how hard or bad it can get (yet), but as someone who has been on the receiving side of care once before, and seen my mom in the hospital twice due to diabetes complications (and I am now going to pursue a nursing career myself), I want to encourage all who are burned out to know that you are truly appreciated by your patients!

My mom, who was in the hospital about 10 years ago, had a bad experience with two nurses being unable to find a vein in her arm (they simply poked and poked repeatedly until she cried out for another nurse!). Finally, when the third nurse came in, she was so soothing and gentle (and was able to find it on the first try!) that my mom said she was "like an angel."

As for me during my stay, thank God I had no such experience. I don't mind needles and I have good visible veins. :chuckle I do remember my nurses being the kindest ladies imaginable (I think I had three in all)! My friends were bringing me flowers (nice gesture, but without vases?) and 300-page books to read (after surgery, hello!!)...and my family crowded around my bed looking like a bunch of sad sacks!

So, I know this was their job, but I was actually relieved whenever my nurses came in to check on me (and give me a break from my family, ha ha). I appreciated every small gesture from my nurses -- things like bringing me a fresh cup of ice chips when I ran out (b/c I had no appetite), finding me an extra water pitcher to put those vase-less flowers in, bringing in a more comfortable chair for my fiance to sleep on, and being nice to him and not even minding that he was there the entire time (he stayed with me for four days and wouldn't leave the hospital).

So please, I know from personal experience that a good nurse -- caring, smart, compassionate, pleasant -- does a world of good for a patient!! You are very much appreciated, so hang in there and keep on smiling (your patients need it)!

:rolleyes:

I am glad that you had good nurses . I have seen nurses from hell that I wanted so badly to take the needle out of their hand because they felt the need to probe for a vein. I can't stand that.:angryfire

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Specializes in LTC.

I tend to try to go the extra mile. Any suggestions on how to instill that desire in others?

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Specializes in LTC.

I tend to try to go the extra mile. Any suggestions on how to instill that desire in others?

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Specializes in LTC.

Thanks, I am feeling much better. You guys are great.

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Specializes in LTC.

Thanks, I am feeling much better. You guys are great.

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