What did you do when you got burnt out?

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I work on a pediatric unit as a tech and a lot of the nurses I work with are burnt out. I can see it in there faces. They are looking for a change but don't know what to do because of pay or hours or just scared.

Has anyone ever got burnt out of being on the floor? What did you do? What new nursing area did you take up? Was the pay comparable?

I checked into a hotel and didn't step out of it for two weeks. I existed with only cable, in room massages and room service or take out. I prayed, cried and evaluated my situation. I became a CPR instructor for 2 years after that and then went back to direct patient care.

And you didn't invite us?

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hppy, Viva and QuiltDog and anyone else who really went through it, wow, I know this is an anonymous board, but you still put it out there to us. It's hard to do. I'm honored. Truly. And SO glad you are doing better.

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I agree with RubyVee that exercise can be extremely helpful. I prefer biking to walking, but there's nothing like pounding out the miles and getting endorphins flowing to relieve some of the tension and stress from a bad shift. Also, getting plenty of sleep, eating well in general, and packing lots of quick snacks for shifts can help.

After 17 years in healthcare (I started working as a CNA while still in high school), and almost 11 years as an RN, I've come to several conclusions about nursing. First, being a nurse is still my passion. Yes, some days are really, really hard...but I can't imagine doing anything else. Second, having good co-workers is key, especially in floor nursing where knowing someone has your back makes or breaks days. Third, I only have 1 brain, 2 hands, and 12 hours. I do my very best to take the best care of my patients with those available resources, but in the end I'm only human. Fourth, sometimes successful shifts are measured by nobody dying and nobody crying :) . And finally, when I start to feel stressed out I look at the small things. I try to find some way to make a difference every day. Maybe its just something small like taking 3 minutes to hold a patient's hand and listen to them, or maybe its bigger. But in the end, we as nurses *do* make a difference, and sometimes we just have to dig through the bureaucracy to find our moments of zen.

This is really nice. I feel very much the same way.

But when you said "hold a patient's hand" I thought of Mavrick offering a fake hand to hold so he can chart and I lost it...

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Specializes in PCCN.
I have been feeling really burned out lately and am considering going part time at my current hospital and picking up part time at another hospital. So maybe I won't have that feeling of dread going onto my floor 5 times a week.

Yes, but wont it be same stuff , different view?

I guess one has to decide what PART of nursing is burning us out.

another straw on the camels back for me was having 1 tech/aide on day shift for 28 acute care pts for the last 2 12 hour shifts,

80 percent bed alarms, and still having to do customer service, not being able to say why it took me so long to get to their call light.

Do you know how stupid you look when someone asks "why didnt you answer my light sooner, are you short staffed?" and you not being allowed to say anything.

"Of course we're not short staffed,I was with another pt" nope not really lying, but not telling the whole truth either.

Running around with your head cut off and catering to customer service, preventing falls, and hoping you don't make a med mistake, have someone bleed out,get bedsores, etc maybe is a little stressful. But I imagine its the same way everywhere now, with cutting of staff to unsafe levels.

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Yes, but wont it be same stuff , different view?

I guess one has to decide what PART of nursing is burning us out.

another straw on the camels back for me was having 1 tech/aide on day shift for 28 acute care pts for the last 2 12 hour shifts,

80 percent bed alarms, and still having to do customer service, not being able to say why it took me so long to get to their call light.

Do you know how stupid you look when someone asks "why didnt you answer my light sooner, are you short staffed?" and you not being allowed to say anything.

"Of course we're not short staffed,I was with another pt" nope not really lying, but not telling the whole truth either.

Running around with your head cut off and catering to customer service, preventing falls, and hoping you don't make a med mistake, have someone bleed out,get bedsores, etc maybe is a little stressful. But I imagine its the same way everywhere now, with cutting of staff to unsafe levels.

Yea, you know? It's not the work so much as the lack of support and the stupid "script" they wanted us to adhere to, like work was Disneyland or something!

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Specializes in Pedi.

I got a new job when I burned out.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

Change jobs from bedside to outpatient and also went PRN

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Specializes in PCCN.
Change jobs from bedside to outpatient and also went PRN

But what if you are the breadwinner and cant go prn or even part time for that matter? Then what.....

Im looking for out patient, but in my area they seem to be hiring MA's not RN's

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Started therapy and began being more "selfish" at home with kids/spouse. Between stress at home and stress at work, I was as burned out as a crispy critter. I was the breadwinner, but I had to go part-time for my sanity. I laid it out for my family (my kids are teens, not little 'uns) about the financial changes that would be coming and they were very supportive. I also learned amazing coping skills in therapy.

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Wow you guys have really good advice stories. I wonder what is actually causing the burn out. Patients...accuities...ratios...doctors

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

As I've heard said before; bedside nursing is inherently stressful due to the individual nurse's huge responsibility, yet his/her lack of any real authority to make changes for the better.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

20 years in and I haven't hit the wall of burn out, at least not yet. Been a little singed though. While there are some bad things about my job/employer there are also some good things, like a scheduler that rarely if ever denies vacation requests. After 20 years I have a lot of time off to use, and I use it! Just getting away for a few days ,or blessedly for a few weeks, is enough to recharge my batteries.

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