Unhappy Speech Pathologist

I am happy with my job, the speech language pathologists that I know are happy with their jobs, I am not sure if you think the grass is greener on the other side or not. If you were unhappy working with the patients in hospital and you are currently unhappy working with the students in school, is it the SLP skill set you are dissatisfied with or the clients?

Change to nursing and in a few years you can write a post titled "Unhappier registered nurse."

Lol, okay. Thanks I guess.

Not sure if the grass is greener. Which is why I ask. I feel burned out and I just started. My client caseload is at 60 right now, and sometimes I see about 30 something kids in a day. The clients are not the problem. Some of the kids make my day. In terms of my skill set, I am a newbie so I have plenty to learn, but so far my supervisor says I'm doing well.

I'd rather be a SLP. You only have 1 pt at a time vs 6.

Oh I wish it was only one pt. I usually have groups of 2-4 every half hour. That means I see at least 24 kids a day.

Our SLP's are happy. They work a combo of peds (I think in schools but not sure) and part time with us in home health. Well paid and respected.

Your reasons for not liking ST so far does not bode well for liking nursing.

You've only been in your career for a year and I'm sure have debt from your undergrad and graduate degrees- why add additional debt for something you more than likely will not enjoy. Instead of jumping ship, why not explore other avenues within your scope of practice. The things you hate about your current profession may seem petty in comparison to what you will have to do as a nurse. Also, if you want to be advanced practice, you want, I say need, practical bedside experience. You are looking at another 5+ years to get where you want as a nurse, and that's a kind estimation.

Not sure if the grass is greener. Which is why I ask. I feel burned out and I just started. My client caseload is at 60 right now, and sometimes I see about 30 something kids in a day. The clients are not the problem. Some of the kids make my day. In terms of my skill set, I am a newbie so I have plenty to learn, but so far my supervisor says I'm doing well.

A heavy case load can cause burn out in any profession, as far as case loads go, NPs have higher case loads with greater responsibility than SLPs. You are doing well in your current position but you are still at the novice level so it is premature to have gained perspective. If you continue working as a SLP for five more years you will reach a proficient level and be in a better position to make a career decision.

Your comments for not liking slp mentioned helping people who don't want it, and a high caseload.

that won't go away with nursing, it will be magnified.

Remember nursing is all aspects of a pts well being. I can tell you most days I feel I don't enough time todo the things I wanted to do for my pts.

Also every new nurse comes on here complaining of similar issues with high case loads just like you. It takes 1 to 2 years to get comfortable in a new role.

If you don't already, you need to find an SLP you can vent to and perhaps have as a mentor. It helps.

Perhaps your setting is not the right one for you?

Have you looked around for a different setting like home care, hospital, LTC ?

There is a real difference between kids and what you do now and perhaps the traditional speech and swallow education and evaluation. In home care they usually work only part time or as needed depending on the size of the agency but they do a lot of different things including concurrent visits when a pat has radiation for some cancer neck/throat.

Perhaps you are just tired of seeing kids?

If you can take some days off and can afford to go away you could also see if a rest changes the way you feel about your profession.

Some of my classmates are very happy being SLP's. They are making a ton of cash by doing the combo work thing. There is nothing wrong with that. I could too, but at this point I want to learn more from my experiences. I also have co-workers who have been doing it for years and hate it. As far as my reasons not boding well; well that's your opinion. Thanks for commenting.