Beating Yourself Up

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

How many of us are like this? We save a life but instead of feeling good about ourselves, we beat ourselves up over what we did wrong, could have done better, or should have done instead?

I spent my entire first year as a nurse lying awake at night doing just this- but that was a while ago, and now mostly I just go to work and do my job and come home feeling pretty good about my work.

But sometimes, even if the outcome was good and all ended well, I question every little thing and chastise myself for how I "should have" done this or that.

I have a feeling I'm not alone here.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Nursing leaves many opportunities for learning. Take it for what it is.

Don't make it into self reflection. That's where the burn out starts.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

When dealing with workplace matters, I'm generally shameless and guiltless. Since my conscience is not that active, I don't beat myself up over poor outcomes.

As my career in nursing has progressed, I've learned to assess what I can change and avoid sweating over the events that I cannot change. My outlook has prevented a great deal of stress and sleepless nights.