Let’s be real for a minute.
Burnout doesn’t always show up in some big dramatic way.
It creeps in.
It builds slowly.
And then suddenly, you’re standing in the supply room wondering how the hell you’re supposed to do this for another decade.
And if you’ve ever blamed yourself for that feeling, I want you to stop. Right now.
Because what I’ve learned, through my own burnout experience and the stories of thousands of other nurses, is this:
You’re not burned out because you’re weak. You’re burned out because you’ve been holding up an entire system that was never designed to support you.
So if you’re not feeling like yourself anymore, here are 10 signs that what you’re experiencing isn’t just a rough patch.
It’s full-blown burnout.
(And no, the solution isn’t “more yoga.”)
10 Ways Burnout Shows Up When You’re a Nurse
1. You Dread Work, Even When You’re Not Working
You know it’s bad when your day off feels worse than your shift.
The dread kicks in the night before. Or two days before. And it doesn’t matter how many hours you’ve rested, it follows you around like a heavy-ass backpack.
2. You’re Snapping at People You Care About
Coworkers, patients, partners, kids…no one is safe.
You feel like a bomb waiting to go off. But the guilt after your “little” freak out is the part that really eats you alive.
3. You’ve Stopped Feeling Anything
This one’s sneaky.
You’re not sad, not angry…you’re just numb.
You’re clocking in, doing the work, charting, going home. But your spark is gone, and your “why” feels like a distant memory.
4. You’re Tired All the Time, But You Still Can’t Sleep
That extra shot of espresso isn’t doing anything for you.
You’re running on fumes, but the minute your head hits the pillow, your brain goes full throttle. You’re replaying the day. Wondering if you charted something wrong. Worrying that you missed something.
5. Picking Up Extra Shifts Only Makes You Feel Worse
You told yourself one more shift would help. That what you’re feeling is just because you’re under financial stress or poor scheduling on your part.
But now you’re working more, feeling worse, and starting to wonder if the system is just using you up.
(It is.)
6. You’ve Caught Yourself Thinking, “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
This one hurts the most. Because you used to love nursing.
You know you’re smart. You know you care. But something’s changed, and now you’re starting to wonder if the problem is you.
Let me be clear: it’s not.
7. You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Felt Proud of Your Work
You’re going through the motions, but there’s no meaning behind it.
You chart. You assess. You medicate.
But the connection? The purpose?
It’s missing.
8. Just Thinking About Going to Work Makes Your Stomach Turn
The physical symptoms of burnout are real, folks.
Nausea, headaches, chest tightness…your body knows what your mind’s been trying to ignore.
And it’s saying, “This job is taking more than it’s giving” in the form of diarrhea.
9. You’re Pulling Away From the People Who Care About You
You’re canceling plans with friends or telling your partner everything is “fine.”
And maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’re just really tired and that when you have a little more energy, you’ll schedule a date night and have a night of deep conversations over wine.
But really, it feels easier to shut down than to explain to anyone how bad you feel because you think they might judge you.
Spoiler alert: They. Won’t.
10. You Don’t Recognize Who You Are Anymore
Burnout doesn’t just take your energy. It chips away at your identity.
You’re not just a nurse. You’re a whole person.
But when your job starts taking up all your emotional, mental, and physical space, is when things start to unravel, and you can’t see the real you anymore.
So, What’s the Solution to Burnout?
That’s a loaded question. Let’s start with what you don’t need to do.
- You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow.
- You don’t need to go back to school or start from scratch.
- You don’t need to “push through” and pretend you’re fine.
- And you definitely don’t need to sign up for another yoga class. (Trust me.)
Because while the typical burnout advice you get sounds nice, there’s no amount of bubble baths that you can take to help you “get over” burnout.
Burnout isn’t always about the amount of work you’re doing.
Sometimes it’s about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for.
You could be the best damn nurse in the world and still burn out if you’re in the wrong role.
That’s why I created the Nursing Personality Quiz to help you figure out what type of nursing career fits you.
Your strengths.
Your personality
Your life.
I promise that you can stay in the profession and that the perfect version of nursing exists.
You just haven’t seen it yet.
And start figuring out what role can support the nurse and the person you are.