Support Group for Nurses

Nurses Stress 101

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I am an RN working to start nursing support groups at the hospital where I work. Do any of you have support groups for nurses at your hospital and would you go if it was offered? We are hoping to give nurses a place to talk and destress. Any ideas would be great! Thanks!

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I'm being completely serious when I say....we have one and it's call the *bar*.

About 3 times a year, our floor organizes some outing. We usually go out to a chocolate/wine/coffee bar, and then those who want to go later can go out after the bar closes. We also have informal get togethers, maybe after a bad night we'll all go out for breakfast and unwind. This spring several of us did a 44 mile relay run. None of us are runners. It was pretty pathetic, absolutely hilarious, a wonderful bonding experience, and we are planning on doing it again next year.

For those who don't want to drink, they are welcome to come with us to the bar. However, I *do* like to drink, and I'm usually the one who organizes the outings. It's not my assigned job, I just do it because I like hanging out with my coworkers. The people who want to do something different are more that welcome to organize something else.

Our hospital is too small, I think, for a support group. I would honestly never go. I feel pretty supported and confident in my practice. If I had an issue, I'd take it to my director.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i am an rn working to start nursing support groups at the hospital where i work. do any of you have support groups for nurses at your hospital and would you go if it was offered? we are hoping to give nurses a place to talk and destress. any ideas would be great! thanks!

i'm not sure what your area and your workplace are like. i personally would not feel safe going to a support group where i work. even though it's supposed to be confidential (or at least, i'd hope it would be) i'd worry about any negative feelings i expressed getting back to management. it's happened.

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I'm with Ruby on this one....anything sanctioned by the hsp is just NOT going to be confidential...backlash will get you!

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Specializes in PeriOperative.

Not only will it get back to management, it will get out to your coworkers -- the ones who contribute to the stress.

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

I think it's pretty sad state of affairs that this thread has even started. I also think it is a true testament to the reality that is nursing today. No one should need a support group for their JOB. Yes, I understand that sometimes we have catastrophic things happen at work that require debriefing, but generally professional debriefing is the exception to our practice, not the rule.

I don't see any accountants out there that say they need a support group.

OP, I am sorry you are having such a stressful time at work.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I would think that the support group is for many other things going on in a person's life besides the job.

How about helping another nurse figure out how to handle a child who is having problems at school?

How about giving tips to new nurses when they are first time moms or dads?

How about giving information on how difficult grad school or how easy it may be?

Those kind of support groups are needed too.

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I don't see any accountants out there that say they need a support group.

Accountants have a support group. It's called AA.

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Specializes in Cardiac and Geriatric.

How sad that RN's would feel unsafe voicing concerns and/or frustrations. We are a profession. This is our career choice and YES we should be supporting each other. I think a group that focuses on uplifting the RN professional is needed in every realm of nursing. New RN's need support, seasoned RN's need support, and those becoming burnt out need support. Our hospital does not have such a group but I do think it is a well intentioned idea that should not be brushed off so quickly. Please let me know how it turns out for you. Like anything worth while...it talkes a while to work out the kinks but the end result will be rewarding :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I tried to start up a monthly coffee club so we could all have a whinge & de-stress, but no-one was interested. Some said they have young families (understandable), and r tired from shiftwork, but I don't think people realise getting away from family & the work place can be a real tonic.

No-one wanted to make the effort.

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I am an RN working to start nursing support groups at the hospital where I work. Do any of you have support groups for nurses at your hospital and would you go if it was offered? We are hoping to give nurses a place to talk and destress. Any ideas would be great! Thanks!

Have you started this group and how is it going? Where are you located? What State? I am thinking of starting a destress group in the SF Bay area. Any suggestions?

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Specializes in L&D, PP, antepartum and NBN.

I need some kind of support group just for the fact that I work the night shift, it is the only one that works with my schedule right now. I mentioned this to a coworker and all I got from her was "maybe you need to find a day job!" and she wasn't nice about it. I got the feeling I wasn't wanted there anymore or something, like maybe they were tired of me being tired? I don't know. Working with a bunch of women is very hard. There are a lot of personalities and not everyone has the attitude to help each other and team work and get along with each other. Most want to look out for themselves and do whatever it takes to better things for themselves! It gets harder and harder to WANT to help others, like trade shifts for them or even work extra shifts when they need off when no one returns the favor or ever considers what my needs are when they come up. Nursing is a very tough profession and, yes, we DID choose our career but could we have possibly known exactly what it entailed when we started college or dreamed of being a nurse? I have a friend I tried to talk out of being a nurse. I tried to explain why, she just didn't understand. When she finally went to work and would call me crying on her way home from her first few weeks of orientation saying they were chewing her up and spitting her out. I told her "THIS is why I didn't want you doing this!!" Women can be SO mean and we have ALL been there! Being new at this, being scared, not knowing something, making a mistake, etc. It is really sad that I try to talk ppl out of becoming a nurse. But, shes moving on to become a nurse practitioner. Much smarter than I am! I don't know that world, maybe it will be better. Don't know.

Anyway, didn't mean to ramble. I guess I'm bored! LOL

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