"Taking A Mental Health Day"

Nurses Stress 101

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Hi,

Just wanted to know everyones take on taking a mental health day. I had to take one today. I work on an extremely busy med-surg-tele-oncology floor and i am also a new nurse, almost 9 months into my career. I rarely ever call out but since we have been short staffed the past couple of months i have called out twice due to overwhelming stress and just being dog tired. Just want to know everyone take on taking mental health day and have you taken them?

:typing

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I have taken a couple of "mental health days."

You must take care of your mind and body, since nobody else will. You can rest assured that your managers and administrators are taking care of their minds and (and the bottom line), so it is only fair that you rejuvenate every once in a while.

No job is worth robbing you of your sanity and mental health.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, med/surg, LTC surveyor.

I have taken many mental health days over the years. I think it is healthy for you to regroup and pamper yourself for a day......:yeah:

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Took one yesterday. Sometimes we need them.

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Specializes in ER/Observation,med-surg,geriatrics,.

I too get overwhelmed ALOT, I feel like I cannot possibly get it all done [whats expected of me] and then I just feel kinda hopeless..silly right?

Anyway, I do take a day once or twice a year- usually walk on the beach and then buy a gourmet lunch or stroll our historic business district and look at antiques,have a glass of wine and just focus on "me".:bowingpur"me"

Have a Great w/e to All... I am off to work again,hopefully it will be ok...:banghead:

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I recall calling off one time because I was so tired I knew I could not get behind the wheel of the car to go to work. I just collapsed from fatigue and slept forever. Another time I dragged myself in and was reeling when receiving report. I couldn't remember a thing the offgoing nurse said right after she left the building. The night was hell. I learned from that experience not to do it again. I was lucky that nothing bad happened. I was so tired that I had told the offgoing nurse that I was unsafe. She ignored my statement. Really don't know what I expected her to do about it. She just handed me the keys and went home!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

You have to do what your body says, and if it says you need a Mental Health Day, then so be it.

You cant let yourself get stressed over working too much!

I've taken a day here and there off, and im sure there will be more to come. Usually its when I know I'm coming down with a cold, and just cant bear the thought of a 12 hour shift.

Last time I didnt take one, I nearly passed out around 4, and stayed there with my head on the desk while the charge nurse passed my meds, and then a coworker drove me home at end of shift - it was 3 hours of torture.

So yay for the mental health days!! Where we can:

:onbch: and :tbsk: :nuke:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I took not one, but THREE of them recently, when I was so stressed out and burned out that I would've quit altogether if I hadn't had that mini-vacation. Just those few days away from the hustle & bustle invigorated me and allowed me to regain some perspective on work and life, which was exactly what was needed for me to be able to go on.

Now, the jury's still out as to whether or not I'm actually going to leave, but at least I bought myself enough time to make the decision wisely, instead of in a desperate, pell-mell rush to get out the door!

1
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Specializes in midwifery, NICU.

Are mental health days included as sick time or in your holiday time? Curious, cause we don't have them, if you feel so bad, you have to call in sick!

Great idea though, I wish we did have them!

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Are mental health days included as sick time or in your holiday time? Curious, cause we don't have them, if you feel so bad, you have to call in sick!

Great idea though, I wish we did have them!

No one calls in and says, "I'm taking a mental health day." They are called in as sick days.

I'm of two minds on this one.

I would label taking the day off to keep something bad from happening or to weather a crisis, a mental sick day. These usually come with little or no warning. And they are as valid as calling in with the flu or a migraine or anything else that renders you preoccupied, dysfunctional and unsafe.

In the name of mental health, however, it's a good thing to schedule occasional single PTO days throughout the year to give yourself some breathing room, to have downtime to hear yourself think, to recharge your batteries. This can prevent, or at least minimize, the stressors that lead to needing a mental sick day in emergency mode.

This isn't selfish. It's sensible and wise. Investing time in yourself in a planned way gives you something to look forward to, and it says that you matter. A schedule mental health day can save you two or three crisis days, and you can have a clear conscience because your absence can be worked into the schedule and won't put the squeeze on your co-workers.

No one should feel bad about taking mental sick days. If you can't go in, you can't go in. Extreme exhaustion, mental/emotional overload, the intense urge to quit that might pass if you take a break--these are situations that require you to take an immediate step back.

Mental health days, on the other hand, amount to taking your own needs seriously, letting yourself have time to refill the well, and catching up with yourself (or a partner). These are situations that can be planned for and built into your life so that you don't have to reach critical mass and have a meltdown to get what you need.

We nurses are far better at taking care of others than we are of ourselves. It's about time we change that.

One last thought; if you find yourself taking mental health or mental sick days more and more frequently (or even just wanting to), it might be time to do an inventory and see if a change is in the wind. Listen to that little voice that tells you the truth.

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Hi,

Just wanted to know everyones take on taking a mental health day. I had to take one today. I work on an extremely busy med-surg-tele-oncology floor and i am also a new nurse, almost 9 months into my career. I rarely ever call out but since we have been short staffed the past couple of months i have called out twice due to overwhelming stress and just being dog tired. Just want to know everyone take on taking mental health day and have you taken them?

:typing

I took a needed MeNtAl health day the other day. I need more of them ... :) But I must get back into the grind to keep up the skill. Iam a Registered Practical Nurse and I m working full time on a step down CVA rehab unit. We are non acute and a part of me craves to truly know the side of acute care. I have had experience in Palliative Care as well as Geriatric Rehab. Iam now on year # 2 on the stroke rehab and find that it can be quite demanding as Iam sure all units or specialties can be enormously draining. Chill out /// Enjoy your life

and keeep up your great work

Dave Moffatt RPN Toronto Canada

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seeing as how may is mental health month, i think everyone should take a mental health day or 5.

:onbch:

:balloons:happy mental health month!!!!!!!!!!:balloons: :clpty:

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