Does the thought of going to your job make you sick?

Nurses Stress 101

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I have been struggling for awhile but I have never reached the point that I am at now...I am literally feeling sick to my stomach, having headaches and other physical symptoms because I am scheduled to go back to work tomorrow. I work PRN on a unit that is fairly new and specialized. I absolutely hate it - and that is not how I am. Though the unit is new, the hospital is not and the hospital has struggled w/its reputation in the community...I thought (and did not listen to others!) that because of some changes this would be a good place to work..wrong. The promises of FT work, how the unit would be run etc. have not materialzed since the unit changed last fall. PRN consists of a few days/month. We have been struggling because of this - I, along w/others, keep getting told once the census goes up FT will be available. The census is up, but nothing. The manager, though nice, is unresponsive and to be honest, seems to leave early a lot of time..The person who runs HR is a beast - to everyone so it's not personal but it's a stress nonetheless. We are not allowed to leave the unit during our shift - period. So if we don't bring something to eat - too bad. There is no microwave so hot meals are out. I think the manager is uncomfortable in her new role and w/the hospital overall as well (she has been there about 8-9 months). I have been applying other places and am not in a position to just not work but the closer my next shift gets the more stressed/anxious and physically ill I am getting. I've not been thrilled w/other jobs in the past, but that is part of nursing sometimes...but this place is different for me. I just wondered if anyone else had ever had such a strong reaction to a job...to the point you really aren't sure you can even make yourself go to work.

Specializes in medical.

Angie1368- you are right. I thought that nursing school with clinicals was a nightmare. That is nothing comparing to the real HELL of nursing once you are in a hospital/assisted living type environment. That's why I am seriously considering totally changing my career. I know some friends nurses who decided to quit nursing altogether. It is sad.

Specializes in Cardio/Pulmonary.

I am at 6 months at my job on a cardio floor with 6 pts a night. things were beginning to get better for me, and going to work every day wasn't sucking quite as bad. i've only cried on the unit a few times, in the break room. the other times that i cried, i did it at my home. last night though, i couldn't believe how rude these older nurses are and i never wanted to go back there again. I had told somebody on the unit that I want to bid on a CCU job. later that night, one of the older ladies that was on the unit (in front of about 6 people at the nurses station) asked me why i wanted to do that and said "i heard you're weepy and cry a lot up here, why do you EVER think you'd handle that any better?", in the most demeaning way possible and laughing. This woman has never spoken to me before in my life. Why do nurses have to eat their young and make coming to work so miserable? Can I quit yet?

Specializes in Cardio/Pulmonary.

and no i did not cry :)

@neatnurse30 i know it is sad. If nursing is like this, that way i'm experiencing it i want to change my career too :( I understand now when people say do what you love. Having a stressful job will seriously affect you both physically and mentally. Life is too short! I'm just hoping that once i do quit, i will find a place to work that will change my perception of nursing for the better.

@BriRN i agree with you about how the "older" nurses eat their young. Since i'm one of the new hires I am forced to worked at the dementia unit because the other nurses have "seniority" and since working there my experiences have been really TERRIBLE. Honestly, each day i go to work i feel like having a panic attack. It's like a have a phobia. I've never felt these feelings before, not this kind of fear. That's good that you've stayed there for a 6 months. I've only been working for a month and i can't even see myself lasting another day. Hope things get better for you.

Specializes in none.
I am at 6 months at my job on a cardio floor with 6 pts a night. things were beginning to get better for me, and going to work every day wasn't sucking quite as bad. i've only cried on the unit a few times, in the break room. the other times that i cried, i did it at my home. last night though, i couldn't believe how rude these older nurses are and i never wanted to go back there again. I had told somebody on the unit that I want to bid on a CCU job. later that night, one of the older ladies that was on the unit (in front of about 6 people at the nurses station) asked me why i wanted to do that and said "i heard you're weepy and cry a lot up here, why do you EVER think you'd handle that any better?", in the most demeaning way possible and laughing. This woman has never spoken to me before in my life. Why do nurses have to eat their young and make coming to work so miserable? Can I quit yet?

Life is cruel. people are cruel and some nurses are cruel. They can't remember when they were young, new nurses. Don't know why this is, but it is. Sorry I can think of nothing to help you.

Some days it takes a lot to keep me from blowing my brains out. I don't know why I got a job as a unit secretary in med surg. I thought my ED job would disappear but it didn't. I shouldn't have left. I hate this job, and I would be devastated if I had no choice but to work on this floor as a nurse. At that point, I would blow my brains out.

Specializes in none.
Some days it takes a lot to keep me from blowing my brains out. I don't know why I got a job as a unit secretary in med surg. I thought my ED job would disappear but it didn't. I shouldn't have left. I hate this job and I would be devastated if I had no choice but to work on this floor as a nurse. At that point, I would blow my brains out.[/quote']

Ah, the wonder world of nursing. It's so nice to take care of humanity. I would have preferred to drive a truck.

Specializes in Pedi.

To answer the OP's question- YES. And that's why I'm on my way to an interview now.

Specializes in L&D; Case Management; Nursing Education.

I've loved all my nursing jobs except for the last one. It was at a hospice agency and was truly a miserable job. I worked 8:30-5 M-F, then was on call every night and weekend, had to go out to do admissions or dealth visits at any time of day or night immediately when I was called. I was told that I was expected to put my job first in my life - that all hospice nurses do that. And, to make it even worse, I was on salary!! I worked weekends and holidays without any additional pay or comp time. I nearly quit before finding a new job because the job consummed my life. Luckily I have another job now. That time was so stressful because I literally never got to see family or friends for weeks at a time. Sure took the joy out of the profession! :(

What is it about this country and the work expectations. we are expected to put work before our personal life. That just isn't healthy. it's as if my boss says: 'she was able to get that assignment done in 8 hours, lets give her more work tomorrow and tell her she can't have overtime". I am so worried that I am going to accidentally harm a patient. I used to like to give my patients extra TLC, foot rubs, back rubs, just spend time talking to them, etc. I have such terrible compassion fatigue right now, it's all I can do to go in and do my job. Plus, we are always worried that we are going to be fired for whatever reason they decide.

Specializes in none.
What is it about this country and the work expectations. we are expected to put work before our personal life. That just isn't healthy. it's as if my boss says: 'she was able to get that assignment done in 8 hours, lets give her more work tomorrow and tell her she can't have overtime". I am so worried that I am going to accidentally harm a patient. I used to like to give my patients extra TLC, foot rubs, back rubs, just spend time talking to them, etc. I have such terrible compassion fatigue right now, it's all I can do to go in and do my job. Plus, we are always worried that we are going to be fired for whatever reason they decide.

It is the bean counters, Sweet Soul. This ones that do not have a spec of compassion in them. Time is money. If we can get away with having just one nurse in the place of two, that is more money for us. Your eating desire to really help your patients doesn't mean a thing. Get them in, stabilize them and get them out. More money and fame for us. I hate to go back to wen I art but it was a different world. I remember a time when I made a mistake in giving meds. The Doctor and head nurse laugh at me and said, "So you made a mistake, we were thinking of upping the time of his meds anyway. After work let's have a beer, and talk about the mistake. The only thing is your buying. It doesn't happen anymore. You make a mistake now and you are lucky if you have a job to come back to. I don't know what to tell you, Sweet Soul. But I wish you the best.

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