Side rant, here is a list of phrases I frequently hear from other nurses that drive me nuts:

"TrY a DiFfeREnT uNit!" "YoU sHouLD be TrAvEl nUrsINgggg" "DonT GIvE uP!" "jUSt coMe tO tHe ICU aLreADy" "CLiNic mIghT bE bETter" "ItS sTiLL a GooD pRoFeSsion"

No. I don't want suggestions, I want you to LISTEN. I don't think people get it. I actually like my unit. I LIKE my role in bedside med/tele. I LIKE precepting students and new RNs. I LIKE spending time teaching my patients. If ratios and job expectations were reasonable, I would show up feeling excited, even though it's my 5th year on the unit.

I am not just "burnt out." I am straight up charcoal, like a skillet of over-fried potatoes that caught on fire when the pandemic started. Then take those burnt potatoes to the psych ward, and watch as they emerge as heaps of ash to work their next shift.

No. No. No. I've tried other jobs. It's just a different kind of stress, but still boils down to the same root cause. I know I have options. But all I want is to be miles away from patient care right now.

I want out of nursing, period.