Some Days I Can't Stop Crying

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

It's hitting me bad today. There are days when I just can't stop crying.

The beaten or raped toddlers, the dead mothers, the miscarriages, the parents who desperately beg us to force their kids into detox...

And on and on and on..

And then someone has the brass balls to complain that we didn't get them a sandwich. Sometimes I hate the world we live in so much. :(

I'm going to hug my kids, take everyone to the park, and try to remind myself of the good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Its lousy thats for sure however if your tears become the norm rather than the occasional blues, consider seeking assistance. Hugs, Jules

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, PACU, hospital medicine.

Sometimes the world around us just 'sucks'. Just know you did everything within your power to help those who need you. You are not going to fix the world. Comfort those who are in pain, hold the hands of those who are scared, advocate for those who can't speak up for themselves, and enable those who need guidance and direction to seek help.

Just be the best you can be. Be the best parent - the best friend - the best child - and the best nurse as you can and no one will think less of you.

Theres things that are said and done by patients and family members in the ER that you shouldn't take to heart. In the ER, patients and families are scared, impatient, nervous, and can be emotionally driven. There may also be underlying factors like drugs and alcohol when once gone - the patient may be a completely different person.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

No wise words,,, just {{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}} and empathy.

Enjoy the kids and the park.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

Thanks guys. I went out of my way to do a lot of life affirmation. Things are a lot better today. I did a lot of being out in the sunshine and being very active.

I talked to one of my best friends who also happens to be my pastor and a firefighter.

I didn't want to leave my AN friends thinking that I never got relief from the feelings in my last post.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hugs, NurseOnAMotorcycle. :(

Your sadness honors these folks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I did 10 years in a level one trauma center and really know what you are going thru. Having an outside life is the key to it all.

Glad today is better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

{{{ Hugs }}}}

Sorry you had a bad stretch. My wise medic friend told me a long time ago, "you save the ones you can - in memory of the ones you can't".

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PACU, presurgical testing.

God bless ER staff, first responders, and the like. Most of us (even in acute care hospitals) will never see what you see.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Med-surg.
It's hitting me bad today. There are days when I just can't stop crying.

The beaten or raped toddlers, the dead mothers, the miscarriages, the parents who desperately beg us to force their kids into detox...

And on and on and on..

And then someone has the brass balls to complain that we didn't get them a sandwich. Sometimes I hate the world we live in so much. :(

I'm going to hug my kids, take everyone to the park, and try to remind myself of the good.

This hit me so hard. I clicked over to the specialty forum to post about feeling like I've reached compassion burnout and I hate who I am and how I feel at work so much of the time. I still love fixing people's problems and being there for them in their time of need, but I have the time to do that less and less often, and then on top of that the incessant demands for more and more and more charting and why wasn't this ESI 5 pt brought a mealtray in a timely fashion during a pediatric code in the next room and I just... dread it. I feel like i could cope with insane working conditions or I could cope with the onslaught of the darkest parts of human tragedy but both is too much, just too much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I had one of these days myself...on Sunday actually. Came home to my beautiful daughter and loving husband and all I wanted to do was cry. I held it together until I went into the bathroom to take a shower...then the floodgates opened. I felt much better after a good cry, alcohol, shower, food (of course, we didn't get a lunch at work that day), and chocolate.

I don't understand how people can be so heartless. It makes my day better when, I apologize to a patient for it taking a while for me to get to them, and they tell me not to worry about it. They heard the family of the dying patient crying in the hall and say; "We're just glad to be in a room." It's people like that who make my day better. People who aren't feeling well themselves but are still just thankful to know that as soon as we aren't busy doing chest compressions, we will be on our way to help them with a smile on our face. People that are sick, but are grateful to still be breathing and not be the patient down the hall on the ventilator.

So big hugs to you Nurseonamotorcycle. I'm glad you were able to spend time with your family and sunshine. That always help. I took my baby girl to the pool Monday and felt the stress and tension melt away.

Any time you want to vent, my message box is always open.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma Surgery.

Seriously. People like that make me appreciate and really love my job, but I do feel bad though like I'm neglecting them. It can be so rough when some patients/families rip you a new ahole over something not your fault or something so minuscule but then you have to turn around and check on your other patients with a smile. Sometimes I wonder with the people who are never satisfied. Maybe one day they will understand. I'm glad there is an online community that is out there for our peers.

Hugs out to you Nurseonamotorcycle!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment