Any burnt out nurses?

[Laaaaa]

Does anyone else feel totally burnt out. I have no idea how I am going to continue. Being so busy and short staffed for months on end has just had a massive impact on me.

I feel low, not sleeping, snappy, anxious and second guessing all descions. I have phones in sick but know my ward will just be struggling and will have to pick up the slack.

Also my manager doesn't seem to have covered my shifts despite me telling her so the ward is ringing asking where I am.

I love my job but just feel so scared of everything at the minute. ❤️

@Laaaaa that is shocking about your manager, she shouldn’t be passing her stress onto you.

Firstly, don’t go back on Monday, you’ve not had a proper rest and by the sounds of it your head is buzzing. Please speak to Occupational health and get your abscence properly classified as burn out and referred to appropriate services.

Secondly, nursing doesn’t need to be like this, we have vacancies in NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland and you’d be welcomed with open arms. Neither board is perfect but listening to friends and neighbours who have moved from UK to both to nurse it’s a massive improvement. Take care.

[quote JMAngel1]@Babyroobs
Fair point. What career did you switch to - asking for a friend [/quote]
I'm a benefits adviser for people affected by cancer. Lots less pay and much poorer pension but I do find it genuinely rewarding and can still use an awful lot of medical knowledge for disability forms etc and also most of the people I deal with are terminally ill so there's quite a lot of emotional support needed to. I genuinely do love my job and it is something I could see myself doing for the next ten years or so until retirement !!

I can totally relate to everything thats written. Now well into my 50's I chucked it all in last year taking many years of experience with me. I now work bank I'm a new women, I work where and when I want too, there's so much work I'm spoilt for choice if I dont like somewhere I dont go back loads of other places to choose from, I finish on time (a complete novelty in the beginning) always get a breaks (another novelty) and no bloody paperwork appraisals pointless meetings and other shit to do in my own time. I earn very slightly less thin did before but its barely noticeable I can simply work another shift if Im short, aI get paid weekly and still pay into the NHS pension scheme, admittedly no sick pay but as the job was starting to have a pretty serious impact on my health not physically and mentally who cares. Ex colleagues comment on how well I look.
My advise join the bank or even an agency you can always go back if you hate it, take control of your working life rather than it controlling you.

not=both

I'm 38, not menopausal yet and wished I was closer to retirement!

@Pyewackect

I'm a grade 8 matron sconded to ITU since last April and to say we've been under pressure is putting it mildly so I do understand how overwhelming it can get but you can't just call in sick because you feel like it, your colleagues and the patients are relying on you. If you do have a problem them you need to speak to Occupational Health. Our Trust runs an Employee Wellbeing Service. They should be able to help you. I'm sorry if I sound harsh but it's virtually impossible to arrange cover at short notice and everybody else suffers. I should know, I worked 60 hours in 5 days !. Thankfully admissions are dropping off significantly so hopefully this is the beginning of the end. I hope so beacuse I have respirator acne and the skin on my face is so sore. We won't need PTSD councelling, just a f*cking dermatologist. At least I don't have to go on a diet. I've lost 2 stone. But its what I signed up for.

Well I’m glad you’re not my Matron! Mine actually cares about us and supports us. I know of at least one staff member who became suicidal due to being seconded to itu during the last wave and others who have struggled with their MH. attitudes like yours are really not helpful.

@Pyewackect

Did you mean to be so helpful

@Pyewackect yes many NHS staff do need psychological help and some are suffering from PTSD. That’s why millions is going into staff well-being psychological services across the UK. It’s not all to do with covid, staff were suffering before and it’s taken covid to make people realise it’s a major issue.

Were you also the type of manger who precovid expected people to turn up for shift when physically unwell with colds etc?