How I Knew I Was Burned Out—And What I Did to Completely Transform My Life

If you’re a woman in healthcare running on fumes, just trying to keep your head above water, this story is for you.

About 10 years ago, I found myself in a place so many nurses know all too well: completely exhausted, overworked, and questioning if I could keep living like this. I was in nurse practitioner (NP) school at the time, juggling intense clinical hours and academic pressure—on top of working.

On the outside, it probably looked like I was holding it together. Honestly, I was overdelivering like so many of us do. But on the inside? My body was waving every red flag it could find:

• Constant anxiety

• Insomnia

• Heart palpitations

• Zero energy

• Thyroid issues I kept brushing off

Burnout wasn’t just knocking at the door—it had moved in, unpacked its bags, and was running the whole damn show. I ignored the whispers, then the talking, until my body started screaming. And still, like ...

5 Hard Truths Every Burned Out Woman in Healthcare Needs to Hear (That Took Me 6 Years to Learn)

It took me 6 years as a nurse to learn these 5 lessons—but once I did, my life and career were never the same.

If you're a woman working in healthcare and feeling like you're constantly on edge, stuck on the hamster wheel of long shifts, zero time for yourself, and no end in sight... you're not broken. You're burned out. And you’re not alone.

I’m here to tell you what I wish someone had told me years ago.

Let’s talk about the 5 things that finally snapped me out of the burnout spiral—and might just change your life too.

1. You’re Not “Letting the Team Down” If You Don’t Pick Up That Extra Shift

I know how strong the guilt can be. You see that hole on the schedule, and you think, “I should help out.”

But here's the truth: it’s not your job to compensate for a broken system. Low staffing is not your fault. Your hospital would replace you in a week if you burned out or broke do...