Maintaining A Sound Mind and A Fresh Nursing Career
Is it ok to admit that I am feeling overwhelmed and burnt out in my nursing career?
The answer to that question is, absolutely. Burnout can affect anyone in any career and is very common in the nursing field. Nurses tend to work long hours several days a week, so many tend to become overwhelmed by their work load. There are many ways to keep the job fresh, and here are just a few:
- Ask about a mentor program for nurses - Many hospitals and healthcare facilities have implemented Mentor Programs for new nurses!
- Education Advancement - Going back to school is often a great way to "rejuvenate" the love of your job.
- Counseling - Counseling is not a dirty word or an admission of defeat!
- Relaxation is Key - Finding a working method of relaxation on and off the job will help rejuvenate your spirit!
- Utilize a nurses lounge
- Take breaks with other co-workers in order to have conversation of something outside of work, or even vent about something that happened at work.
- Try to help create a social environment. Let others know that you like to chat about things not pertaining to "the job". A word of caution though: Supervisors may frown upon those that talk excessively or allow their conversations to distract or slow them down at work.
- While at home try to leave work where it belongs, at the workplace. While your family may certainly be interested in your work, they may not be receptive to you in an agitated state. Spouses, boyfriends, and close friends are a good place to vent, if absolutely necessary. However, it is very important to lead a fruitful social and family life that does not involve events from your work.
Mentor programs offer new nurses the ability to be paired with experienced nursing professionals that have learned working techniques to reduce job stress. Mentors can provide inspiration, advice on how to deal with on the job problems or conflicts, knowledge, and can serve as a role model to a new nurse.
If a Mentor program is not available at your facility, it may be helpful to seek out a mentor on your own. This could be a coveted staff member that others turn to for advice, or even a friend obtained along the way. In most cases, it would be very flattering to another nurse to have a colleague seek their wisdom and they will generally be very receptive to offering what they have learned over the years.
Another benefit of seeking out a mentor among your peers is that it will show a desire to learn and to advance. This could play a key role in future decisions over your career advancement. Who wouldn't take advantage of an opportunity like that?
Sometimes dealing with job burnout is as easy as changing course in your nursing career. Advancement opportunities are endless with the proper training and skills. There are many online degree program opportunities available and completion can be achieved while maintaining your current position.
Many years ago, a high school graduate could look forward to a great career. All it took was ambition. As time and job requirements progressed, it became almost a requirement for a person to have extra training in the field. Often times, this meant only some technical training, whether at a trade school, or even just a certificate program.
Later, college education became of great importance. Students that graduated with only an associate degree were highly sought after and could easily step into rewarding careers. As time progresses, so do job requirements for nearly every professional career. With college degree programs available to almost every citizen of the USA, employers are now afforded a vast pool of applicants. Those applicants with a higher education are often granted priority.
Today, a Bachelor or even a Master degree is a must in order to successfully land a job in a career with advancement opportunity. If the person does not hold a higher degree, it will almost certainly be expected of them to obtain the degree when wanting to advance.
Many people believe that they can fix themselves. They think that they will just get over it in time, so the problems they are having go on unchecked and eventually become impossible. Admitting you need help dealing with the challenges you face in your nursing career is the first step to eliminating career stress.
Most facilities, especially in medical careers, have options available to those wanting advice or help. Every single practitioner in medicine understands the feeling of burnout. While some manage to deal with burnout quite well, others can ultimately lose all interest in their job and may eventually give up. Seeking some advice or help, may have saved a career and in turn given the person a new outlook and alternatives.
For more information on burnout, take a look at this article that explains what some Paramedics face during their career challenges.
Nurses face a high stress job. During the course of almost every shift, a nurse will undergo some sort of stressful event. The problem lies in the inability of that nurse to somehow relive that stress. If no outlet is found, stress can build and eventually even spread to home and social life. It can almost go untold of the devastation that be caused by bringing stress home from the job.
Look for ways to relieve stress or let off some steam:
Get the most from your career, without letting it get the most of you!
A career is a lifelong commitment. It requires dedication and hard work to be successful, but the rewards far outweigh the costs. By taking control over how your career affects your emotions, you will drastically increase your chances of holding that career and becoming successful. Maintaining a healthy balance between your work and your social and family life is the key to financial and mental stability.
