How many times have you cried???

[CareBayer]

How far are you into your first year and how many times have you come home and cried?

I've been off precepting for five weeks and have come home and cried three times....most of the time it's because I was so overwhelmed on the floor....once I almost started crying at the nurse's station because I was being pulled in a million directions!

How about you?

[LuvBNanRN]

I have just started orientation and have not cried yet, but even when I just had clinical I would be driving home crying from that and I wasn`t even doing much. I can`t imagine what it`s going to be like when I really start working in the next 2 weeks!!!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

I do think there is definately something wrong with crying! That isn't to say I have not cried, or that people who cry over work have something wrong with them. I think that a profession that is so stressful that can cause you to lose your wits and break down and cry, well that is just not something I am interested in. I am quickly making plans to find another kind of job in nursing, so I never have to cry about work's stresses again.

I would have to say anger is my response to stress, whatever form of stress. When someone or something isn't going right or something is just plain stupid, my response is anger. That goes for workplace hostility or "lateral violence." It's just stupid, so I quietly vent in my head. It's easier to cope with than sadness. I've only broken down once at work and it was with a 3 year old boy that drowned. That was the last time, and all of us working were a mess. It was awful. I felt like I was out for the count and unable to move on to the other patients. Once those flood gates go, kiss all sanity goodbye.

Ya know, other jobs I worked in prior to becoming a nurse had me feeling the same emotions that I do as a nurse. The issues are basically the same wherever you go. You just have to have thicker skin in this profession. Makes you a stronger person, anyway...

[tarapom]

Is it possible to go into doctors office type nursing? Is that a less stressful situation? When I go to the doctors most of the time, the office staff/nurses/doctors all seem to be generally very happy and relaxed in their jobs. My plan for my career has always been to start off in a hospital, work the ER or trauma or some other high stress/high adrenylin/life and death type position, and then move to an office position when I got burnt out. I very seldom see nurses here on allnurses.com mention office work though and I'm curious why.

I was just at the doctor for some blood work and I asked the girls at the front desk if they are hiring. They told me that there are only medical assistants and physicians working in the office. I guess the medical assistants can do everything necessary and they can be paid a lot less.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

IIt had just been a hard and busy night. We're "short" now supposedly on nights, and I've gone from 3 to 5 patients most every night now -- but somehow, the sweet little charge nurse and her "buddies" never seem to have more than 3, maybe 4. They seem to have all the time in the world to sit at the nursing station and joke around while looking at wedding shoes, dresses, etc.

THIS is the most upsetting thing there is. To run your butt off all night, while your little nasty colleagues give you looks while you're running, yet never offer to help. It's the worst, not to get support and to not be at least offered a friendly smile or anything during the shift.

So, never underestimate your own ability as a staff member to offer someone help, particularly at the end of the shift, as they're trying to finish up a heavy load. You could be the one that enables that nurse to stay one more day as a nurse and not to totally lose it and just walk out.

Reading this post hit dead on, you are so right. It is so hard to work with disrespectul co-workers.Nursing is hard enough without having to work with certain, I won't say the word on my mind right now due to TOS.

It is possible to develop "thick skin" in this business because it's happening to me. I'm usually very emotional and cry easily, but man, not anymore. I wanted to cry this morning due to an incredibly stressful night, but I didn't.....I just unloaded on my DH instead. Thankful to have someone to hear me out....that helps. I really had something that takes the cake tonight on disrepectfulness, but won't post info due to it may show my identity. I will say this....I hate bold-faced liars!

Take care!

[Jules A, MSN]

I didn't vote because I haven't cried at work or after but that doesn't mean that I think I'm "too professional" to cry. It just hasn't happened. I'm normally quick to tears when I'm angry but fortunately even though I get aggravated at work I'm not really angry and don't cry, so far.