Finding the right words – talking about burnout

A real story shared under a changed name – thank you to the storyteller.

Martin – Registered Nurse 

While working in a large public sector intensive care unit that I experienced burnout because of my work. At that time, I didn’t have the language to describe what I was feeling. I didn’t know it was burnout. 

I just knew that I wasn’t ok. Exposure to multiple deaths and trauma, a high-stress work environment, unpredictable unrealistic workloads, lack of adequate resources and physical and emotional exhaustion had depleted me.

No one talked about burnout. It was just, ‘You’re not your happy self ’. I remember a pastoral care staff member saying to me: ‘How are you?’ after someone had died. I told them I was really tired and sad. It was the first time someone had asked me that. There is incredible value in talking and asking someone what is going on.

Burnout – what is it

Burnout is not just having a bad day. It's work-related stress that can have a cumulative, unwanted effect over time. And that’s what I experienced. 

I believe burnout is common among nurses and midwives for a number of reasons. We give a lot of emotional energy each day being empathetic to those we care for, while also facing many frustrating system issues, such as lack of beds, delays in accessing referrals, staff shortages, occupational violence and a lack of resources to do the job. 

Ask your colleagues are you ok?

In nursing and midwifery, we’re all in this together, and we need to keep asking each other: ‘are you ok?’. It helped me when someone took the time to ask and really listen when I answered. 

Opting out – my only option

It was after a night shift in charge with 5 agency staff that brought it all to a head for me. I thought ‘I can’t do this anymore’. I resigned that morning. I remember walking past a jewellery shop on the way home and thinking I could do that – go work in a jewellery shop. That looks like a fun job.

I was sad that there was a lack of support and acknowledgment for my chronic unrealistic workload, and that it had made me want to leave the profession I loved. 

When you’re in the service of caring for others, you are often very good at putting your own needs or your own self-care first. Fortunately, I got the support I needed, studied counselling and made a commitment to do all I could to support other nurses and midwives at risk of burnout. 

Life beyond burnout

I went on to have many other jobs in nursing and have been an advocate for nursing and midwifery health and wellbeing. 

I have always been a nurse. It is part of my identity and a profession that I love. I advise others to ‘…find the right fit for you at each stage of your life. If you don’t like what you’re doing, if you’re stuck and can’t see the future, there are so many other areas of nursing and midwifery you can try’.

Talking about where you’re ‘at’ and your next steps with someone who understands can be helpful. So, if you are feeling burnt out or have lost the love for your work, try peer support.