What Makes You Feel Burnt Out??? (10 Questions)

TazziRN, RN · Jul 13, 2007

1. in which area of nursing are you working (ob, l&d, icu, er, med/surg, peds, hospice, etc.)? 19 years in er, new to home health

2. do you work at a hospital? if not, in what type of facility do you work? home health agency that covers the entire county

3. are you working as a nurse and in school at the same time? if so, which scenario fits you: work ft, school ft? work ft, school pt? work pt, school ft? work pt, school pt? no

4. how many hours a week do you work? hired for 40, sometimes work more

5. what type of shifts do you work? days

6. are you married or single? married

7. do you have children? if so, how many? 3

8. what age group do you fit in?:

18-22

23-27

28-32

33-37

38-42

43-47 this one

48-52

53+

9. are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)? overweight and no, although i do watch portions

10. what do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out? average life span for an er nurse is 5 years. it finally caught up to me!

RunnerRN, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2007

1. In which area of nursing are you working (OB, L&D, ICU, ER, Med/Surg, Peds, Hospice, etc.)?

ER

2. Do you work at a hospital? If not, in what type of facility do you work?

Hospital - Large level I trauma center

3. Are you working as a nurse AND in school at the same time? If so, which scenario fits you: work FT, school FT? work FT, school PT? work PT, school FT? work PT, school PT?

Not in school right now; going back for my FNP MSN in January, will be part time schooling.

4. How many hours a week do you work?

36 hrs - 12 hr shifts every Fri, Sat, Sun; usually with at least one extra 6 or 8 hour shift thrown in there, plus meetings 12 hrs a month.

5. What type of shifts do you work?

Used to just do 3-3, but now I do everything except 7p-7a.

6. Are you married or single?

Married

7. Do you have children? If so, how many?

None yet.

8. What age group do you fit in?:

23-27

9. Are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)?

I run 3-4 times a week, lift weights 3 times a week, eat pretty healthfully. And enjoy chocolate :)

10. What do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out?

For me, it is mainly a number of hours a work thing. I used to do a simple Sat/Sun schedule, but I'm now precepting a new grad and need to pick up extra hours to facilitate that. I'm also picking up sicker patients to help her get a good experience (so tired of trauma right now).

I'm very involved at work (chairing several committees, on several others), and I've found that can be a blessing or a curse. I get along well with most of my coworkers, so that helps as well. A big problem I've found is that I have ideas as to how things "should" be. Ex: each nurse should take 3-4 patients, if I have 4-5 patients, then I should not be taking a trauma, etc. I get very frustrated when I'm there and completely working, and there are people who are NOT pulling their weight. I'm not a work Nazi, but I feel like if you're at work, you need to be at work.

Getting a little rambling here. Hope this helps!

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2007

1. In which area of nursing are you working (OB, L&D, ICU, ER, Med/Surg, Peds, Hospice, etc.)?

Med/Surg/Ortho/Tele

2. Do you work at a hospital? If not, in what type of facility do you work?

250 bed hospital

3. Are you working as a nurse AND in school at the same time? If so, which scenario fits you: work FT, school FT? work FT, school PT? work PT, school FT? work PT, school PT?

Full Time nurse.

4. How many hours a week do you work?

Scheduled 36, but we are so horridly under staffed that I routinely pick up 12 hours extra per week.

5. What type of shifts do you work?

Scheduled for 3 12 hour shifts a week. I usually pick up an extra 8 or 12.

6. Are you married or single?

Single

7. Do you have children? If so, how many?

No children that I know off...

8. What age group do you fit in?:

23-27

9. Are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)?

In between Sometimes - Most of the time.

I could stand to lose about 12 lbs. I need to exercise some more.

10. What do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out?

I don't honestly feel "burnt out" - but the horrid under staffing plus lack of support, appreciation and respect from management really chaps my hide. I'm tired of hospitals treating us professionals as hotel workers.

In other words - it's definitely not the money. It's the "working conditions". Even if my pay were to go up, I doubt my satisfaction would.

cheers,

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2007

Your questions highlight some areas that may contribute to burnout for some, but you don't ask the respondents to identify whether or not they "feel burnt out" -- you seem to assume it. Respondent A may be juggling work, school and family life, work different shifts, eat a steady diet of junk food & coffee and smoke like a chimney ... Respondent B may work a part-time schedule of 30 hours a week, work steady days, eat well and exercise 3+ times a week. But are you jumping to conclusions about which respondent is "burnt out"?

SweetLadyJ · Jul 13, 2007

Your questions highlight some areas that may contribute to burnout for some, but you don't ask the respondents to identify whether or not they "feel burnt out" -- you seem to assume it. Respondent A may be juggling work, school and family life, work different shifts, eat a steady diet of junk food & coffee and smoke like a chimney ... Respondent B may work a part-time schedule of 30 hours a week, work steady days, eat well and exercise 3+ times a week. But are you jumping to conclusions about which respondent is "burnt out"?

If you would read my entire original post, you will see that I said the following sentence before asking questions: "I would like to know the answers to the following 10 questions from those of you who feel burnt out". So I didn't assume anything nor did I jump to any conclusions about anyone.

nyapa, RN · Jul 13, 2007

1. in which area of nursing are you working (ob, l&d, icu, er, med/surg, peds, hospice, etc.)? i was in acute medical for a long time, that really burnt me out, but am now rotating areas which is helping.

2. do you work at a hospital? if not, in what type of facility do you work? hospital

3. are you working as a nurse and in school at the same time? if so, which scenario fits you: work ft, school ft? work ft, school pt? work pt, school ft? work pt, school pt? ft work

4. how many hours a week do you work? 35 - 40 hours per week plus overtime

5. what type of shifts do you work? all

6. are you married or single? married

7. do you have children? if so, how many? two dogs and a cat

8. what age group do you fit in?:

18-22

23-27

28-32

33-37

38-42

43-47

48-52

53+

9. are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)?well i walk alot, but my diet needs to improve.

10. what do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out? violence/aggression in the workplace, no recognition from higher ups what us floor ppl have to put up with, heavy workloads, way too much paperwork!, and that nursing involves caring for ppl who can be critically ill and the stress that goes with that - including legally.

allele, LPN · Jul 13, 2007

1. in which area of nursing are you working (ob, l&d, icu, er, med/surg, peds, hospice, etc.)? i work on a step down unit for cardiac surgery/vascular surgery/thoracic surgery patients.

2. do you work at a hospital? if not, in what type of facility do you work? yes, i work in a hospital.

3. are you working as a nurse and in school at the same time? if so, which scenario fits you: work ft, school ft? work ft, school pt? work pt, school ft? work pt, school pt? i'm a full time rn and taking courses to get my bsn. i'm taking my time with it, 2-3 courses a year, whatever my job will pay for.

4. how many hours a week do you work? when i work a normal week, i work 36 hours a week. sometimes i pick up hours if the floor needs me.

5. what type of shifts do you work? i work 12 hour days.

6. are you married or single? engaged.

7. do you have children? if so, how many? no children

8. what age group do you fit in?:

18-22

23-27

28-32

33-37

38-42

43-47

48-52

53+

9. are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)? no, i'm not physically fit, and i don't eat a healthy diet. i will say that i know i'd feel better if i did though, and work would be more tolerable at times....i used to try and get more exercise and always felt better and sharper at work for it. :)

10. what do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out? i know the main factor in what makes me feel burnt out at times...it's all the damn paperwork they keep throwing at us, for starters. this new medicare thing is putting me over the edge...i don't see why it's not a social work job. jcaho gets to me sometimes too. i know what they do is important and i'm all for it, but the stupid little things get to me....like, "jcaho is coming! everything out of the hallways!" when jcaho came we had to put the linen cart and the hydrolic hoyer in our tiny little break area. it's stupid. i work in an old hospital with very little space and i don't see how doing silly little things like that helps the patients out at all. just makes me aggravated because i have to squeeze into a little room to take a break. lol well, that's those are the main things that are goint to eventually take me away from bedside nursing, but for now i love it......usually! :)

agent66 · Jul 13, 2007

As a newbie, I have noticed in several threads that many of you have expressed feeling burnt out from working as a nurse. I would like to know the answers to the following 10 questions from those of you who feel burnt out:
1. In which area of nursing are you working (OB, L&D, ICU, ER, Med/Surg, Peds, Hospice, etc.)?
cardiac med/surg
2. Do you work at a hospital? If not, in what type of facility do you work?
teaching hospital
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3. Are you working as a nurse AND in school at the same time? If so, which scenario fits you: work FT, school FT? work FT, school PT? work PT, school FT? work PT, school PT?
working only
4. How many hours a week do you work?
20-30
5. What type of shifts do you work?
nights only
6. Are you married or single?
married
7. Do you have children? If so, how many?
two kids, age 7 and 10
8. What age group do you fit in?:
18-22
23-27
28-32
33-37
38-42
43-47
48-52
53+
I am 40
9. Are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)?
presently out of shape, chronic shoulder and hip pain, living with it. Eat healthy most of the time.
10. What do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out?
not enough time to get everything done well at work. Patients are much higher acuity than even 10years ago and yet staffing unchanged and paper workload increased.
Thanks in advance!!! :)

I find humour a good way to relieve stress in the workplace. You just have to feel people out and figure out who can take what kind of humour. Sometimes laughing at ourselves is good therapy too. The occassional glass of vino apres work is good too. Keep lots of friends in the profession, no one understands our "issues" like our own kind. Husbands nod their heads allright, but they just don't get it! Remember your're only 1 person, and you can't save the whole world.

TrudyRN · Jul 13, 2007

As a newbie, I have noticed in several threads that many of you have expressed feeling burnt out from working as a nurse. I would like to know the answers to the following 10 questions from those of you who feel burnt out:
1. In which area of nursing are you working (OB, L&D, ICU, ER, Med/Surg, Peds, Hospice, etc.)? Alzheimer's/LTC/Medical
2. Do you work at a hospital? If not, in what type of facility do you work? yes
3. Are you working as a nurse AND in school at the same time? If so, which scenario fits you: work FT, school FT? work FT, school PT? work PT, school FT? work PT, school PT? long-time RN, not in school, work FT
4. How many hours a week do you work? 40
5. What type of shifts do you work? Days, M-F
6. Are you married or single?
7. Do you have children? If so, how many?
8. What age group do you fit in?:
18-22
23-27
28-32
33-37
38-42
43-47
48-52
53+
9. Are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)?
10. What do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out? tired of working
Thanks in advance!!! :)

I hope this helps.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jul 13, 2007

1. in which area of nursing are you working (ob, l&d, icu, er, med/surg, peds, hospice, etc.)?

nicu

2. do you work at a hospital? if not, in what type of facility do you work?

hospital

3. are you working as a nurse and in school at the same time? if so, which scenario fits you: work ft, school ft? work ft, school pt? work pt, school ft? work pt, school pt?

school (msn) ft, work prn

4. how many hours a week do you work?

varies, 8-16

5. what type of shifts do you work?

weekend days 7a-3p

6. are you married or single?

single

7. do you have children? if so, how many?

no children

8. what age group do you fit in?:

18-22

23-27

28-32

33-37

38-42

43-47

48-52

53+

9. are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)?

i maintain a healthy weight, work out 5-6 days/week, and eat healthy about 90% of the time (gotta have my treats here and there!)

10. what do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out?

i just don't like bedside nursing anymore. i'm tired of the hospital setting, needy families, joint commission, press-ganey, weird schedules, fights over who works holidays, etc, etc.

Djuna · Jul 13, 2007

1. in which area of nursing are you working (ob, l&d, icu, er, med/surg, peds, hospice, etc.)? er

2. do you work at a hospital? if not, in what type of facility do you work? yes

3. are you working as a nurse and in school at the same time? if so, which scenario fits you: work ft, school ft? work ft, school pt? work pt, school ft? work pt, school pt? work ft

4. how many hours a week do you work? 40

5. what type of shifts do you work? mix of 7-3:30pm, 2-9:30pm, 2:30-11pm and 9-7:30am, sometimes all three within a 2 week period

6. are you married or single? married

7. do you have children? if so, how many? 2 kids who have left home

8. what age group do you fit in?:

18-22

23-27

28-32

33-37

38-42

43-47----this one

48-52

53+

9. are you physically fit and eat a healthy diet (all the time, most of the time, sometimes, never)? eat a healthy diet most of the time, reasonably fit

10. what do you believe is the main factor that is causing you to feel burnt out? working with the public who have high expectations of er staff, being constantly busy, shift work is exhausting, lack of a supportive atmosphere, staff meanness. the major burn out factor for me is the patients and their families. i am sick of people whining.