I’ve been a bedside nurse for 6 months now and am already so burnt out. Is this normal?


When does it start to get better lol

Sorry for the negativity lol

It's really common to feel like this between 6 months and a year as a new nurse. Hang in there, if you find you're still feeling the same way in 6 months or so try looking into another area.
I've worked on the same floor for 9 years now and I'm wishing I got out sooner.

15 years in here. Unfortunately, it does not get better at the bedside. People are sicker and have so much systemic need that it is not enough to give traditional nursing care. The expectation and pressures that we face in this environment are unrelenting and unreasonable. The entitlement of patients and their families is unbalanced with what we can achive in a 12 hour period and we are set up to fail every day.
You have to find balance however you can. Work with a therapist proactively. Wear your compression socks and make sure you take a break to hydrate snd pee regardless of what is happening during your shift. It is a 24 hr job.
This career is not for the faint if heart, it will eat you alive. Take care of yourself first and foremost. And if you can’t take one more minute, change areas.

I've been doing bedside for 5 years and it does not get any better. I've switched from Med/Surg Tele to ER to ICU to PCU. The US healthcare system isn't designed for the workers, but for the profits at the end of the day. Burn out is all too common for bedside nurses who stay past 6 months. Even with your clinical skills getting better, there is too much that demands your attention ( not to mention floor politics). I recommend finding which kind of people you would like to surround yourself with and follow that path. If that leads to computer engineering, coding, personal trainer then so what? Life is short and don't be ashamed of leaving nursing just because you've invested time in it.

Quite normal. Most new RNs will probably change career altogether within 5 years

You’re not the only one. 1 year exprience (almost 2yrs) and I still feel the same to the point where I’ve considered changing careers 🤷🏻‍♂️

I felt the same for the first 1-1.5 yrs. Started in stepdown unit. Your clinical experiences are rapidly multiplying and this will reduce the mental stress over time. Cut yourself some slack and accept that it a part of the process. Take a few moments after your shift to recognize one positive impact that you made in someone’s life. Most importantly, find some balance, some ways to disconnect from work when your not at work. Best to you, and what I hope will be a long healthy career.

It doesn’t get better. I was ambulatory for four years and switched to bedside thinking I was missing out on something. I lasted a month and went running back to ambulatory- the stress and the amount of time spent cleaning the patients was overwhelming. the hospital would just let the patients go to the bathroom in the bed bc we were so busy to get them to a commode. Nightmare. You’ll find you niche don’t give up.

Unfortunately, with the types of patients and the demand of that you're probably dealing with, I think it is common to get burnt out at a faster pace compared to other roles in the healthcare profession. Maintaining efficiency, remaining calm, and building trust is something you have to do all the time, and that can be exhausting depending on how many patients you have. But hang in there...maybe use your time off to take care of your own health and reenergize with meditating, going on walks, or enjoying something that has absolutely nothing to do with work. What you do is important, and you likely don't get the recognition you deserve!

I felt that way as well six months in and throughout my first year as a nurse working on med surg/tele, switched to another floor (OB) helped but not enough- recently moved out of bedside completely and into clinical
Research. It’s been a nice change of pace and completely refreshing. Maybe time to try another area?

Gonna try to hang on for another 6 months just to get some experience and see how I feel .

I’m a school nurse in NYC with agency, 8-3 and get 75 an hr. I love it because it’s soo boring. I love how chill it is and after working the pandemic I’m grateful for this job. Not sure what my next move is but this job it great.

I worked 5 years bedside and left. I stayed that long for the experience, but it was a tough 5 years. I worked night shift and it was 4-5 admissions a night per nurse, starting IVS, labs…and this is as charge nurse. I work for an insurance company and I work from home—I make way more than I ever made bedside and with a lot less stress. I will never return to bedside because hospitals just don’t care about their nurses.

Check out remote nursing!!!! You can work from home or do hybrid option if you still want to visit office.

Bedside nursing doesn’t get better. I did bedside for over 6 years or so. Yes u will develop your clinical skills which will allow you to provide better patient care but the system is not designed to make it less stressful. Healthcare is unhealthy for nurses. Let me rephrase bedside nursing is unhealthy for an extended period of time. You can try the OR or PACU it’s less stressful….it may renew your faith in the nursing profession. Good luck 🙂

I highly advise you to figure out which department or type of nursing you want to do before you either have a meltdown on a patient or at your coworker. Take a break - take your PTO. Reassess yourself, your journey, and your goals. Good luck.

I am right here with you girl. I’m in med surg and the assignments each shift are crazy and I’m over it. The patients definitely don’t make it worthwhile. I am met with violence and curse words every shift. Then two admissions in a night.

Completely valid and normal. The nursing profession does not value the individual what so ever. Just find a speciality you love an employer that doesn’t work you to death and a supportive administration. I know sounds impossible right.

I felt that way. That’s when I went into a speciality. I’d recommend the OR! Right now there is a huge need for OR travel nurses!! Go get that money!! 🙌🏽☺️

Yes.

Unfortunately you’re not alone. This seems to be the new norm post-pandemic. Self care is important and hang in there. At the one year mark you will have added skills and confidence which will aide you in handling situations better, efficient time management and critical thinking. These skills are important to master and you can transition after a couple of years under your belt