Burnout: It happens to new grads, too!

“That patient in 310 is soooo needy! He won’t eat, complains about everything, and refuses to ask for help to get around! ARRGGHHH!”

How many of us are guilty of saying something like this about our patients? We say it to co-workers, ourselves, and doctors. We even say it loud enough to be overheard at the nurses’ station. Then we wonder why the family seems distant to us.

We all have the things that make us come to work. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that we don’t know what those reasons are. The alarm goes off. We get up, eat, shower, and leave the house with just enough time to make it to work to punch in. We get assignment and our first thought is the acuity of our patients.

“G-tube, total care, going to surgery … what did they do, give me all the hard patients?” Time to pass medications, chart, call doctors, and MAYBE have enough time to drink something and go to the bathroom. Before you know it, the shift is over.

Burnout is common to the profession, especially for new grads. Once you get past the “honeymoon” phase, the newness wears off. So, even though we all need some outside reason for doing our jobs, it’s especially important for new nurses.

Care is part of our field’s description. For some people, this is reason enough. The caution is to not let your desire to care for your fellow man shortchange your value as a nurse. Sometimes nurses work tired or sick because they want to see a patient from a previous shift.

I can hear you now: “I just really like this for the money. I must be a horrible person!” Stop. As a professional, and as this may be your first career, it’s nice to be able to pay bills. The monetary aspect only lasts so long, though.

So, what can you do? First, try to really think about why you’re a nurse. Take an hour for yourself (no kids, phone, errands, etc), and go where you can reflect (Starbucks, the park, your kitchen table).Take out a piece of paper and just write whatever comes to mind. Don’t think about it; just write.

Look at your list, and pick out one or two reasons that really jump out at you. Figure out some way to remind yourself of these quickly. It can be a saying, a quote, or even just a word.

When I left my old job to start nursing school, my assistant gave me a bookmark. It says “When I’m serving others, and doing what I do, please help me to remember that I’m really serving you.”

My job is to serve others. Not being subservient, but doing the best I can to give them safe, quality care. I challenge you to take my challenge: Why do you do what you do?

About the Author
Lawrence is a registered nurse specializing in orthopedics and neurology. I am a member of patient satisfaction committee, and help facilitate communication between nursing and CNAs.

Read all posts by Lawrence Underwood

4 Responses to “Burnout: It happens to new grads, too!”

Deanna Miller, RN MSN/Ed HCE Says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm

Great blog! It is soothing to believe that all nurses have chosen our profession for the same reasons that we have, whatever that reason may be. I say whatever that reason may be only because it is a valid reason to the beholder.
Personally, I chose the art of nursing because of my grandmother. As I was growing up she had a huge influence on my life as she cared for me while my mother worked. She often told me how she so desired to be a nurse and to take care of the sick but because of growing up in poverty and not having government resources available as we do today, she was never able. This always weighed heavy on my mind. Although I too had an intense interest in caring for people, my true incentive was to carry out my grandmother’s dreams….and so I did.
8 years ago today my grandmother passed away. I will surely never get over it but I will always remember my inspiration for being the nurse and the educator that I am. On the day of my grandmother’s services I made her dream come true. I placed my nursing pin on her and whispered, “You are now a nurse grandma, and thank you for making me understand the importance of compassion and comfort for those that are ill.”

Chelsea Bancroft Says:
October 24th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Not that long ago I went to a dinner for the 30th Anniversary of the nursing program at Curry College. There was a speaker there who spoke on this very topic. She brought up the idea of Nursing Burnout being one the very reasons why we have a nursing shortage. There I was a fresh nursing student with all of this emotion and passion for my career that I never thought this possible. Then she said something that I will never forget ” How many of you drive home after your shift and before you know it your home; and you dont remember the drive- its as though you blacked out while driving home?” That has happened to me numerous times coming home from my nurses aide position. It dawned on me that I was expereincing high levels of stress at work and I wasnt working them out.

The idea of writing is so important. Thankfully I was given the opportunity to do that here on Stressed Out. I didn’t care if anyone was reading what I wrote but I was getting everything out and it felt great. i also find that the gym helps a lot. Its a time for me to take care of myself for a change- and a little retail therapy never hurt anyone

I love that my job is to soothe the ill and to be their advocate when they cant speak themselves. Truly, I am blessed to have been given the privilege to take care of someone when they are at their weakest.