Talk me down from the ledge (2nd edition)

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi guys!

Can you relate?

I am about to enter NS in the fall and have been providing pt care for 7+ years now as a tech in various capacities. Lately the pts have really been getting on my nerves and I am wondering what the heck am I doing furthering my career in pt care??? I really love helping ppl and the practice of medicine, but it really seems that ppl do not want help, but just to exert their control on you, to vent on you, to complain to you, etc. etc. Ppl just do not seem respectful and I have a hard time not internalizing it I guess.

I'm afraid that one day I am just going to explode and say "Shut up! Shut Up! SHUT UP!!!!!" :bugeyes:

:confused:

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
Hi guys!

Can you relate?

I am about to enter NS in the fall and have been providing pt care for 7+ years now as a tech in various capacities. Lately the pts have really been getting on my nerves and I am wondering what the heck am I doing furthering my career in pt care??? I really love helping ppl and the practice of medicine, but it really seems that ppl do not want help, but just to exert their control on you, to vent on you, to complain to you, etc. etc. Ppl just do not seem respectful and I have a hard time not internalizing it I guess.

I'm afraid that one day I am just going to explode and say "Shut up! Shut Up! SHUT UP!!!!!" :bugeyes:

:confused:

Maybe you have a case of pre-nursing jitters (sort of like pre-wedding jitters, KWIM?) You've been accepted to nursing school, you have a start date, but you're having cold feet because you are aware of the commitment you're making in terms of time and money, and you just want to be sure this is what you really want.

It could also be that people have gotten ruder over the past few years and that you're getting the brunt of people's anger and angst as a tech. That could happen whether you're a student or experienced.

Don't explode and don't tell anyone to "shut up" because it could cost you your job as a tech, which is a foot in the door for getting hired as a nurse when you finish school. Go home and punch your pillow or exercise for a while and work out your frustration.

I hope it gets better for you---I do think a lot of what you're feeling could be pre-nursing jitters.

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I definately agree with Moogie. It could most definately be jitters. At least you have recognized that you have low patience levels with certain people and certain situations. This gives you the opportunity to work on that before NS begins. I am a pre-nursing student and have low patience for drug seekers and addicts. I have a family member that has all but ruined our family due to their addiction. I realize this is a problem, and I plan to let my personal emotions take back seat and offer help if possible. I will try and be subjective and caring to the people who have a high tolerance to pain medications, and to the people who are down right addicted. One of my personal goals is to maybe turn an addict around- show them that there is a better way of living. This is hard to even think of, especially with what this person has done to my family. Just put yourself in their shoes, try to think positive, and remember why you got into nursing in the first place. Good luck to you. :flwrhrts:

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Thanks katebean and Moogie :-). Youre both correct and katebean, you hit it on the head- I CAN'T STAND addicts. Most have a very "me-me-me" personality that I have a very hard time stomaching. I am sympathetic, but they often try to elicit sympathy/guilt on part of the care-taker. I refuse to take responsibility for their issues!! Thank you for sharing your experience and insight.

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The person (in my family) tries to make everyone and anyone throw a pitty party for her, all the time- health related or not. We used to think about "the boy who cried wolf," and what if this time it really is something. (At first, we didn't know that all she wanted was dilaudid- and she would fake chest pain, say she had a concussion, or anything to get her drug... and say she was allergic to everything else... well now we know better.) Well, five years have gone by, she has floated from hospital to hospital, and we don't rush out in the middle of the night anymore. I think you are right to have the feelings you do, but remember your job is more important than screaming at someone... no matter how good it feels. These people (addicts) do the same things that they do to their family to the health professionals (but worse because it is all the time). I have learned to only deal with her if I have to- and when I do- I bite my tongue, and try to educate her that drugs aren't the answer to everything. I feel for you, that you HAVE to deal with people like this, and I feel like there should be some kind of solution to this epidemic of drug seeking and addictions. (She uses the ED everytime she wants IV dilaudid- takes phenergan before going, drives herself to within 5 minutes of an ED that hasn't dealt with her recently and calls 911. Her pcp gives her perscriptions of dilaudid and phenergan as well.) Sorry, to go off on a rant like this... but I feel your pain. I hope we can both find patience in these kind of situations as we go through NS and through out our careers. Again, at least now- you know that situations like this take you to your (our) boiling point. I wish you luck :)

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Thanks again, katebean. Feel free to email me as you go through NS and encounter problems like this or of any kind. It really helps to talk w/a fellow student. I almost dropped out of NS before I even began! I hope the knowledge we have of our reactions to certain types of people helps us immensely. :o

The thing is, I find the best way to deal w/these types of ppl is, as you said, as little as possible. Meaning I don't "give" them very much of myself. Sometimes you have to be curt and to the point w/certain types of pts or they just suck the life out of you. I am wondering how my nursing school instructors feel about this approach and I'm wondering if I will have to "nice" it up while in school. Not that I'm mean or neglectful. I make sure they get what they need as far as care, but...you know :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Just make sure you have an out. Something you can do that makes you forget about everything. I hit a punching bag, go for a bike ride, just something to get away from all the crap you deal with day to day. It is something I learned as an EMT and it works wonders now in NS.

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Thanks, That Guy! How has NS been for you? Are we expected, as students, to take as much crap (figuratively, LOL) as possible from the pts? Do you feel overwhelmed yet?

Thanks in advance for answering my 20 questions :lol:!

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I think you take less crap form pts, but the crap still comes from other places ha ha. I love NS it has been great to me and I have even been held back a semester because I failed one class. I have seen and done amazing things and am really ready to just get out of school and be done with it to start working and be on my own! Just remember you can do it, you can get through it and that alone helps. Attitude really is everything.

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Specializes in ED.

I can TOTALLY relate! I'm a tech right now and about to start my senior year of NS. When I have patients page me 4x in a 2 minute period to turn their lights off that he/she can control from the bed I want to scream at them - TURN THEM OFF YOURSELF!!! Or the patient's mama that stays with her 30+ year old son and pages me to open or close his door I'm like ***** Get off your fat azz and do it yourself!!!!! It is very frustrating to me right now.

I truly want to help heal and help people but I am way "over it" right now.

I just keep telling myself it is temporary and there are a few shining moments working with patients and feeling good about the work I'm doing.

I'd say that if you are truly feeling helpless and hopeless you may want to consider taking a few weeks off. I know that not working may not be an option but it might save your sanity!

good luck and hang in there!

meredith

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Thanks Merky, It is nice to know that I can have someone to talk to about this while going through nursing school. I would also like to hear about your expiriences along the way. I try and forget about the things she says or does and have almost cut her out of our lives... it goes way deeper than I would ever post on allnurses. I have very small children and this person demands to be left alone with them. It just makes things hard because everytime I even hear the name of drugs that she takes it automatically brings up a bad feeling for me. I want to help people at their worst and at their best. I have a passion for nursing and am very patient and I am a straight A student in my pre nursing classes- but I don't want to be feeding addictions at the same time. I really appreciate your offer Merky, and I will definately take you up on it. You are more than welcome to email me as well, I wish you luck through NS.

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I think you take less crap form pts, but the crap still comes from other places ha ha. I love NS it has been great to me and I have even been held back a semester because I failed one class. I have seen and done amazing things and am really ready to just get out of school and be done with it to start working and be on my own! Just remember you can do it, you can get through it and that alone helps. Attitude really is everything.

You're a motivator! Now I'm excited! Thx TG!!:yeah:

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