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In my bachelors program I did a lot of research papers and my final capstone on nurse burn out and retention. It is something that has interested me since I first became an LPN in 2012. Through my research in my BSN program (and career as a nurse), I quickly realized that nurse burn out and retention were even bigger issues that I could have imagined. The problem is a systemic one and there are many factors that need to be looked at and discussed to truly make nursing a sustainable career. In my little corner of the internet for the time being I want to focus on fostering community and self care to help nurses cope with burn out (myself included), although I will discuss other factors from time to time.

What is Nurse Burn Out?

Nurse burnout is a mental, emotional, and physical state cause by chronic overwork, lack of job fulfillments & support, and continued stress. A 2001 study showed that 43% of nurses working in hospitals reported symptoms of emotional exhaustion and burn out.

Signs & Symptoms of Burn Out

Constant Fatigue

Fatigue and exhaustion is expected when working long hours caring for patients. But when a nurse begins to live in a permanent state of emotional and physical exhaustion and it begins to effect their life outside of work, this can be a sign of professional burn out.

Feeling Overworked or Unappreciated

Feeling like your work is not appreciated or goes unnoticed can lead to feelings of burn out. We can help each other feel more appreciated in what we do by showing appreciation for our coworkers- both nurses and other staff.

Lack of Enthusiasm about Work

We all have days where we don’t feel like working, but a constant state of dread and anxiety surrounding work is not normal or healthy.

Irritability/Lack of Patience

Becoming easily annoyed, lacking patience, both inside and outside of work is a common effect of burn out.

Mentally “Checked Out”

Feeling “numb” or disengaged both in and out of work is a common sign of burn out.

Battling Burn Out

Say no to overtime

I have said yes to overtime plenty of times, both to help out my fellow nurses and to help out my bank account (just being honest.) However, I have seen and felt the toll constant overtime can take on people and the burn out that can follow. As nurses, we love to help and we know the struggle of working short. However, it is not your job to burn yourself out to staff the unit. No one will care about your mental health or well being as much as you. We HAVE to take care of ourselves to take care of others. This means saying no to overtime, switching shifts, or staying over when we need too.

Talk to Someone

Find a friend, fellow nurse, family member, or leader that you can talk to about your feelings. I have a nurse friend who has been a nurse longer than me, and talking to her has been so incredibly helpful. She has encouraged me to deal with my stress and take time for myself- through using PTO and saying no to overtime. You also can consider professional councilors, they can help you work through your emotions surrounding your burn out and help you decide what the best plan of action is for you to recover.

Self Care

We all have different ways we like to rest and recharge. Bubble baths, massages, time outdoors, time with loved ones, Netflix on the couch, are all ways you can practice self care. Find whatever works for you and make sure you take time every week to do it. Also, remember the basics of caring for yourself. Eating well, moving your body, and sleep are all important to being a happier, healthier, less stressed nurse.

Stress Reduction

Meditation, yoga, exercise, and journaling are all ways that we can work to reduce stress and deal with emotions that come with our job and life in general. It’s important that you find what works for you and again, do it regularly.

Burn out is something that is extremely prevalent among nurses (and nursing students) and is something we should be talking about- in nursing school, the workplace, and our nurse social circles. We should discuss recognizing signs of burn out so we can intervene and get help before we hit rock bottom. I recently wrote about my own Burn Out & Journey to Recovery . Just because you are burnt out, doesn’t mean you are a bad nurse or that you don’t care about your patients. We need to let people know they have a safe place to talk about their thoughts and feelings and offer the encouragement and support they need.

Are you currently dealing with burn out or have you in the past? What did you do to help yourself recover?

References: Avoiding Burnout as a Nurse- Nursing.org

How to Detect and Avoid Nurse Burnout- USF Health Online

Hello! I have officially been back to blogging consistently for a month and I have to say it feels good to be back! I graduated Medical University of South Carolina’s RN to BSN program in August 2019. I loved the program and had a great experience there and I am proud to call myself an MUSC alum! I did a LOT of research of different programs before I started MUSC so I wanted to share some general information on RN to BSN programs that I found in my research as well as a little bit of my experience in one to anyone who may be thinking of taking this path. Sorry this post turned out to be longer than anticipated, but I was trying to answer a lot of the questions I know I had before starting this journey. Let me know if you have any questions!

What is a RN- BSN Program?

A RN-BSN program is a transition program for Associate of Degree Registered Nurses to become BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) prepared nurses. The actual program is typically one year if you go full time, although part time and self paced programs are also an option. Upon graduation, you will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Classes include gerontology, physical assessment, leadership, and research.

Are prerequisites required?

Yes. Most bachelor degrees require at least 60 hour of core classes- math, science, english, arts, etc. I completed my classes at the community college I attended for my ADN (RN) program. I was able to earn an Associate of Science Degree and complete all the pre-requisites required for my program. Make sure you check the program you are interested in for required pre-reqs before you start taking classes! Most have specific classes that are required. Part of the reason I chose MUSC was because I had all the classes and wouldn’t need to take any more. A lot of the other programs I looked at I would have had to taken an extra semester of classes because I needed a specific science, math, psychology, etc.

What type of time commitment is required?

RN to BSN programs vary in what type of classroom attendance is required. The program I attended was 100% online and did not require any specific check in times, which I really liked. Some programs are hybrid, where you attend class or lab weekly/biweekly and the rest is online. Other, may be 100% in seat, although I don’t think those are as common. As far as coursework and studying, I would say I spent at least 10-15 hours a week completing assignments.

What was the coursework like?

Papers, papers, and discussion post. You will write, “Great post! Thanks for sharing!” more times than you can count. And you will spend a lot of time researching, writing, and editing papers. HOWEVER. Don’t be afraid. I personally like to write and research and don’t mind papers, but I know not everyone is this way. Even if you don’t like writing papers, it can be done. If you are super worried, look to see if you program provides any type of writing help or resources. Also, Purdue OWL APA guidelines + an APA manual are absolute MUST.

Do I have to take the NCLEX again?

Nope! An RN is an RN, whether BSN or ADN prepared! No more NCLEX!

Why should I get my bachelors?

I think their is a lot of disagreement on if nurses should have to obtain their BSN or not, especially with the push for programs to only be BSN, magnet status wanting hospitals to house 80% BSN prepared nurses, etc. I think it’s a very personal decision to go back to school and varies among the individual. It is a big financial and time commit to return to school, but you can find ways to help with that. My hospital reimbursed me for part of my tuition in exchange for me staying one year as a RN. Going online and having a flexible class schedule allowed me to work and live without school (completely) ruling my life.

Most hospitals are requiring nurses to complete BSN to keep your job unless you are grandfathered in, I had to sign a contract I would have mine within 5 years of hiring. BSN also opens up a lot of job oppurutnies both in and out of the bedside/hospital. Things like case management, leadership, program coordinations, public health, education, etc. all either require BSN, or you will be more likely to get the job with the added boost. It also sets you up for grad school and continued education if you decide that is the route for you.

What was your personal experience with the program? 

First day of “class”

I really did love my BSN program and had a good experience. It was all online and didn’t require any set log in times so I could keep my schedule and not make any changes at work. I went to school full time and worked full time and still felt like I had time for fun and hobbies. A lot more time than I ever had in my initial licensure program. I understand the exhaustion and burn out that follows completed nursing school, but honestly, RN-BSN is not nearly as stressful. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of papers, discussion post, and research- but the stress and amount of work is way less. I was busy but it was manageable.

I will be honest and say that I do not feel the program necessarily helped me grow a lot clinically as a nurse- all of that growth has come from my time as a nurse. However, the research and discussions I engaged in really helped me to see nursing in a big picture kind of way. And to be honest, it made me see a lot of the issues with nursing. Systemic issues involving leadership, staffing, burn out, disparities in healthcare, and more all came to light and really changed my perspective on some things. It could be discouraging at times but it also helped me to grow as a nurse and person and helped to shape and guide my beliefs and passions as well as career goals and aspirations.

Have you or do you plan to attend an RN to BSN program? Do you have any questions for me?

Two months ago I was on my way to Charlotte, NC to take my NCLEX exam. It’s hard to believe it was that long ago. I wanted to share my timeline and experience because I know it is something we are all curious about as nursing students! I left Wednesday afternoon with Bradley and we headed d to Charlotte for the night. The first thing we did when we got there was find the testing center- this is something I highly suggest you do even if you are testing in your home town! The last thing you want is to be stressed and lost the day of your test. After that, we grabbed some dinner and headed to the hotel room. I mostly just relaxed and tried to not think about what the next morning would bring. I did sneak in a 50 question review on my UWorld app while waiting for dinner (oops!), but other than that- no studying the night before!

I woke up at 6- I was to show up at 7:30 for my 8am test. I chose an 8am test because all through nursing school my tests were typically at 8 or 9 in the morning. I wanted to keep things as normal as possible, as well as not have to long to let my nerves get the best of me. Now, I know people who test early and loved it, and know people who tested later and loved it. You have to do what’s best for you!

I showered, got dressed, spent a few minutes of quiet mediation, then headed down to the continental breakfast. The hotel had a really nice spread- I only wish I had been hungry- ha! My anxiety was high but I knew I needed something in my stomach. I ate some yogurt and fruit and sipped some coffee. I could hear my heart pounding and my hands were shaking- the day was finally here!! I was about to take my NCLEX- the test that would decide if I would become an RN!

I drove to the testing center- even with turning the wrong way out of the hotel I was there in 6 minutes (I booked the hotel closest to the testing center). Give yourself plenty of time to get to the test center- this is not the time to be late because of traffic. I walked in to the center- went to the restroom- and walked in the actual center right at 7:30a. They had me grab a number and take a seat. While I waited the gave me a print out on basic information for the NCLEX- how breaks worked, time, number of questions etc. I ended up waiting until 8:05 before I was called up! I did not expect this but they called every person up individually and it took some time. When they called me I did my palm vein scan, had my picture taken, and then was walked to a locker. I had to pull up my hair to show my neck and ears, put my scarf in the locker along with my ID and keys. My instructor said not to bring anything- so I didn’t. Most people has purses and jackets though and this wasn’t an issue. I then took my locker key and talked to the test proctor- who again checked me for any paraphernalia. He then handed me a white board and pair of ear plugs and walked me into the testing center.

Once inside the began the test. You have to do some practice questions- some do not count against time and some do- you have to do all of them before you can begin. I quickly went through them then it was time to start! My heart raced the whole time- although I did start to calm down as time went on. I didn’t feel as focused as I usually do on tests- and I didn’t feel as confident as I hoped in my answers. Every select all that apply question that popped up (there were a lot) made me more and more nervous! However, I believe this is how many applicants feel. Remeber, Pearson Testing Centers proctor a lot of differnet tests. If you hear people typing or getting up quickly- the are not necessarily taking the same tests as you! So don’t feel like your missing something or doing something wrong.

I kept coaching myself to not panic if question 76 popped up- that it meant nothing. Because it doesn’t. I am happy I passed in 75 questions, but people who take all 285 have the same RN after their name as me. After question 75- the screen went blank. I sat in shock for a moment- then completed the survey. I raised my hand and the proctor came and walked me out. He asked what I was taking and when I said “NCLEX” he said “WOW- that was fast!” It didn’t make feel any better- that’s for sure. I felt nauseous again- but luckily I kept my breakfast down. I did not feel confident I passed- and told everyone that I didn’t know if I did. Again, I think this is how most people feel.

Bradley and I spent the rest of the day exploring Charlotte and trying to keep my mind off the 48 hour wait for quick results. On Saturday morning- I woke up- and didn’t check. I was so nervous. What if I failed? What if there not there? Finally- at 12 I put in the credit card information- and there it was. One of the best words in the English language. “PASSED.”

If your a fellow nursing student studying for boards- read my review on UWorld and how helpful it was in my NCLEX preparation!