Why I am Grateful for Burning Out as a Nurse

Thanks for sharing this! I can relate to what you have written, and went through my own process of realizing the truth of what you have shared. I was starting to suffer from anxiety attacks both before and during work. Although the anxiety never got in the way of what I needed to do at that moment at work, I took it as a signal that I needed to work on myself and make some positive changes.I was blessed to have a shift recently where I had the time (and made the time!) to listen for a full 45 minutes to the parent of one of my pediatric critical care patients. She just needed to talk, to vent, express her anger at the situation she was facing. Although I enjoy the medical and intellectual parts of what I do, the reason I am a nurse is ultimately to provide holistic care, not just the medical care.I also have taken measures to turn off from work when I'm at home. This is the first time I've posted to AN for awhile, as I have taken a deliberate break from my career when I'm clocked out. I don't check work emails very often or think about work. When I'm at work I'm 100% there. When I'm at home my family deserves that I'm 100% at home in my mind, too. One other thing I have done recently that has made a huge difference is get back in touch with my spiritual needs. To connect to something bigger than myself, lean on something bigger, and refocus my perspective to a wide-view lens rather than magnifying glass.







----“The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There's only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment”― Gautama Buddha

anon456 BEautiful! What an awesome discovery to BE 100% where you are... I am so happy for you. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Thoroughly enjoyed your Article.

I enjoy your contributions. Thankfulness, every day, to vital. It is healing. I've only learned this as I've gotten older and I'm grateful for it. It brings inner peace.

This was an eye-opener article. Thank you. I think all of us reach that burnout point but few of us take the time to reflect on it and better ourselves by taking care of ourselves. I learned a few years ago to take time out and give myself a few well earned rewards. Funny how a pedicure or body massage can rejuvenate. Taking time to do creative projects helps me to stay grounded and balances out the demanding parts of my life. I am currently learning to meditate and hope this will also help to give me the balance that I need.

Thanks for sharing!

I admit it: I am the queen of ingratitude. I often fixate on negative occurrences from the distant past that cannot be changed, and it is hindering my ability to live fully in the present. Instead of being genuinely thankful for all the great facets of life, I sometimes seethe.I am an adult woman in my 30s, so it pains me to disclose my unresolved issues from past childhood traumas. One parent abused alcohol and drugs for a significant length of time, and both parents were verbally abusive at times. I also witnessed scenes of domestic violence. As a result, my self-esteem took a hit and I have regular flashbacks of the violence. My youth was not that much different from upbringings experienced by other people, but I find myself stewing in unproductive anger and resentment for having experienced the lower aspects of life. I feel a profound sense of ingratitude because I feel I was born at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and to the wrong family. I know that sounded extremely cold.I know that ingratitude is unhealthy; however, my emotions override my more logical side. Perhaps I could make a new year's resolution to find one thing for which I can be thankful each day. I am very much a work in progress.

Hurray! You're whole again!Well, it appears nursing philosophy (or I might call it the healing art) assisted you in the enabling of yourself to seek a better way after reviewing your state of affairs! Fine to see you took the steps to improve your life. Perhaps giving up on immune compromising vaccines would perhaps help as well. I know... I know these boards have lit up several times regarding this topic. So don't go there

Quote from TheCommuterI admit it: I am the queen of ingratitude. I often fixate on negative occurrences from the distant past that cannot be changed, and it is hindering my ability to live fully in the present. Instead of being genuinely thankful for all the great facets of life, I sometimes seethe.I am an adult woman in my 30s, so it pains me to disclose my unresolved issues from past childhood traumas. One parent abused alcohol and drugs for a significant length of time, and both parents were verbally abusive at times. I also witnessed scenes of domestic violence. As a result, my self-esteem took a hit and I have regular flashbacks of the violence. My youth was not that much different from upbringings experienced by other people, but I find myself stewing in unproductive anger and resentment for having experienced the lower aspects of life. I feel a profound sense of ingratitude because I feel I was born at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and to the wrong family. I know that sounded extremely cold.I know that ingratitude is unhealthy; however, my emotions override my more logical side. Perhaps I could make a new year's resolution to find one thing for which I can be thankful each day. I am very much a work in progress.

I think issues from childhood haunt a lot of us. Thanks for the post, Commuter. My childhood was not as deprived as yours, but there was lots of middle class dysfunction there (Adopted, Divorce, Swinger father suggested I sleep with him because so and so brought their daughter to an orgy, Stepfather was a domineering prick, mother desperate to stay married and totally emotionally distant, the list goes on and on, I just withdrew into my own world)

The Commuter, thank you for your honesty. I do relate to you as I had very similar beginning and one day I decided that the pain of resentment was just not where I wanted to live anymore. Please make that decision! It sounds like you have so much to offer the world and it is hidden beneath all this old anger. I love the saying resentment is like taking poison and hoping someone else will die.Thaks for sharing and I hope you will understand that loving and accepting outselves is the fastest way to make the world a better place!

Emergent you are not allowing others to define you and yes it takes time however it is worth every bit of effort!