title: A personal reflection: the difficult decision to leave critical care nursing.
abstract: At some point in their careers, all critical care nurses will decide that it is time for them to leave critical care nursing. Whether this decision happens because of role change, retirement, or burnout, the decision can be a difficult one. This article explains my decision to leave the pediatric critical care unit and explores some of the reasons nurses leave critical care.
authors.affiliation: Concordia University Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aldridge
mesh_terms: D002055:Burnout, Professional; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological