What are your tricks for leaving work at work?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  • by ixchel
    Specializes in critical care.

You are reading page 3 of What are your tricks for leaving work at work?

Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

when i lived close to work and had a short commute, i'd walk my dogs as soon as i got home. after a brisk 2 or 3 miles, i was able to stop thinking about work. or i'd swim for an hour or so in the bay out back . . . with eagles soaring overhead, egrets wading in the shallows and (on the weekends) dodging power boats. now that my commute is longer, i listen to my favorite music (loudly) in the car as i drive home.

dudette10, MSN, RN

3,530 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I had a hard time letting go at home until just recently. Diversion has never, ever worked for me because I tend to ruminate to the exclusion of all other thoughts on my omissions/mistakes, but reframing does.

Examples:

I got yelled at by a doctor because I had to call her back immediately because I forgot to tell her something. Reframing: Oh, well. I'm not the only one who has ever done that. The important part is that I went ahead and made the call.

I forgot to chart a notification to a doctor. Reframing: Oh, well. I got the telephone order; it's written down. There's my proof I spoke to someone! Or, the patient was added to the consult's patient list, and I did notify her and told the next nurse about the notification.

I had to leave a couple tasks for the next nurse, and I feel bad about it. Reframing: Oh, well. I work my butt off, I don't make it a habit to leave stuff, and nursing is 24/7. If she doesn't subscribe to the 24/7 notion, too bad.

StarryEyed, RN

138 Posts

I did that for the first almost year that I worked. Then did it on and off. I plan on starting again tomorrow :)

This will probably sound silly, but it works for me ...

About halfway through my drive home, I pass several farms with herds of cows. I imagine dropping my problems off in those fields - where the cows POOP ALL OVER THEM.

ixchel

4,547 Posts

Specializes in critical care.
This will probably sound silly, but it works for me ...

About halfway through my drive home, I pass several farms with herds of cows. I imagine dropping my problems off in those fields - where the cows POOP ALL OVER THEM.

OMG that is hilarious! Love it!!!!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN

4 Articles; 7,907 Posts

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Blasting music on the drive home...it helps me decompress and put work back in its compartment.

OMG that is hilarious! Love it!!!!

It's amazingly therapeutic!

Annoying family member? POOP ALL OVER HIM.

Resident who's not returning your pages? POOP ALL OVER HER.

Co-workers who'd rather stand around gossiping than answer call lights? POOP ALL OVER THEM.

TopazLover, BSN, RN

1 Article; 728 Posts

As a new nurse I wrote when I came home. Then an old nurse told me to put everything in my cap when I took it off. Some days my cap had my cheat sheets in it. Other times just a name. I would throw them out the next time I worked. I did that for years then stopped wearing a cap. From then on it was loud music. Pink Floyd doing "Comfortably Numb" seemed to hit the radio often when I needed it. Somedays there was no relief except ice cream.

Choose wisely. All can be addictive.

+ Add a Comment