I can safely say I've never felt so tired as a nurse until I switched to ICU.
Ive done general surgery and step down.
Something about a constant stream of alarms, constant life/death situations, sitting in on multiple withdrawing vs futile care meetings with physicians and families of patients, and the notorious withdrawing drug addicts just sucks your soul physically and emotionally.
Sometimes I ask myself why on earth I left the comfort of my cushy post op position where I recovered post appys, cholys, and plastic surgeries.
Like, does anyone literally feel hung over the next day? It's almost like a hung over feeling.
I know it'll take time and in time I'll become tougher with better stamina.
Specializes in Trauma ICU, Neuro ICU, Surgical ICU, ED.
I have a theory that it either gets better with time, or you get used to feeling so exhausted that it becomes your new normal. I'm not sure which end of the spectrum I'm at currently. I started my ICU career in a busy 32 bed MICU/sepsis unit. From there, I moved to neuro ICU, trauma ICU, surgical ICU, and burn ICU. After nearly three years in the critical care setting, I moved to the ED, and was a level one trauma nurse on night shift.
Every ICU I worked in was incredibly high acuity, busy, and demanding. I often left work feeling like I had nothing left to give, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally. Trauma, I found, was no different, and, in some ways, was even worse. The ED never slows down, and it wasn't unusual to work 10-20 level one traumas each night. The tragedy, and constant scramble, that is trauma was also absolutely exhausting in every way possible.
For me, the best thing to do is cluster my shifts. I have always been a night shift nurse, and there is nothing I hate more than not having my three or four nights in a row. I would rather come into my last night feeling exhausted than have only one day off, and spend it sleeping continuously. Another thing that helps me is staying on a consistent schedule. No, I don't always stay up all night, and sleep all day, on my days off, but I try not to swing wildly back and forth between a night shift and day shift schedule.
I also try to make time for myself, and I no longer allow myself to feel guilty about it. If I'm exhausted, and I spend all day sleeping, or sitting on the couch reading/binging on TV, who cares? If my house isn't spotlessly clean, or I could stand to wash one load of laundry, so what? Sometimes you just have to take time for yourself. I also find that spending time with my family and friends helps tremendously.
I've been ICU for several years. The first 6-8 months were tough, and my stress resulted in some serious heartburn.
I have since grown accustomed to it. You develop trust in your skills, your co-workers and your equipment. You eventually find that sweet spot between caring and caring too much, between being alert and being on edge.
I eventually found the sweet spot by understanding that I'm part of a greater whole. If I do my job appropriately and competently, I do not stress over outcomes.
Some folks are cut out for the ICU, some aren't. I have rarely come across anyone who knew either way before the 6 month mark. Give it some time.
MDMBSNRN
53 Posts
I have a theory that it either gets better with time, or you get used to feeling so exhausted that it becomes your new normal. I'm not sure which end of the spectrum I'm at currently. I started my ICU career in a busy 32 bed MICU/sepsis unit. From there, I moved to neuro ICU, trauma ICU, surgical ICU, and burn ICU. After nearly three years in the critical care setting, I moved to the ED, and was a level one trauma nurse on night shift.
Every ICU I worked in was incredibly high acuity, busy, and demanding. I often left work feeling like I had nothing left to give, whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally. Trauma, I found, was no different, and, in some ways, was even worse. The ED never slows down, and it wasn't unusual to work 10-20 level one traumas each night. The tragedy, and constant scramble, that is trauma was also absolutely exhausting in every way possible.
For me, the best thing to do is cluster my shifts. I have always been a night shift nurse, and there is nothing I hate more than not having my three or four nights in a row. I would rather come into my last night feeling exhausted than have only one day off, and spend it sleeping continuously. Another thing that helps me is staying on a consistent schedule. No, I don't always stay up all night, and sleep all day, on my days off, but I try not to swing wildly back and forth between a night shift and day shift schedule.
I also try to make time for myself, and I no longer allow myself to feel guilty about it. If I'm exhausted, and I spend all day sleeping, or sitting on the couch reading/binging on TV, who cares? If my house isn't spotlessly clean, or I could stand to wash one load of laundry, so what? Sometimes you just have to take time for yourself. I also find that spending time with my family and friends helps tremendously.