What do you tell yourself to get you through a shift?

[j0yegan]

What do you tell yourself to get you through a shift? My heart rate gets extremely high when I'm at work. I feel like it's dangerous. I've been trying to do some deep breathing exercises. I need something else. So what do you tell yourself to keep calm? "Just relax." "You can do it." I need something more than that because that's not really helping me. I get so anxious and stressed out. I have not only a high heart rate but also multiple soft bowel movements / diarrhea (lol) every day I'm at work. I need a different state of mind to get me through work...

[RNexplorer]

To the OP, I totally understand how you're feeling right now. It can be very stressful to have to juggle so many competing demands. I get it! So, this is what I tell myself:

You're only ONE person, not FIVE.

What is your PRIORITY right now? BREATHE... and Focus on the most important PRIORITY... BREATHE....

The rest will get done when it gets done. BREATHE....(And remember to SMILE)

Also: Remember to find humor in your day... even the smallest amount of humor can help

[j0yegan]

To the OP, I totally understand how you're feeling right now. It can be very stressful to have to juggle so many competing demands. I get it! So, this is what I tell myself:

You're only ONE person, not FIVE.

What is your PRIORITY right now? BREATHE... and Focus on the most important PRIORITY... BREATHE....

The rest will get done when it gets done. BREATHE....(And remember to SMILE)

Also: Remember to find humor in your day... even the smallest amount of humor can help

My coworkers and I vent to each other. That helps as well. You're right- I'm only one person. I can't please everyone right now. I've come to realize that I'm actually human and not superhuman. So patients are just going to have to deal with it. I tell myself this. And humor IS good. We were all laughing at how our patients were. They always have a sense of entitlement and think they're our only patients!

Also, I've started listening to Joel Osteen. He says, "Give your worries to God!" I let Him deal with my worries so I don't have to. Definitely lifts a huge burden from my shoulders.

[ceccia]

"every day, another day closer to the day i never have to do this again".

it's a quote from a quirky British indie film called I Really Hate My Job.

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

This is one of my favorites that keeps me going, and it's pretty funny. I also have a motto, goes something like this..."I can do anything for ______________." I fill in the blank with whatever time frame is needed. If I have a horrible patient assignment that I know is going to me mine for the weekend, I will say "I can do anything for 24 hours." Helps me look at things in the grand scheme, and it doesn't seem so bad.

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

I realized a few years in that I was the source of most of what made me crazy with anxiety. NOT the patients, or the other nurses, at least to the degree I felt it. They weren't the CAUSE of so, so much anxiety.

The way I thought about and processed was the problem. If a particularly entitled patient (or nurse) made a demand, I prioritized their demand according to my work, not according to their excessive flapping. If they got horribly insulted that I did not firebomb the doctor's lounge for them, I let them fire me or complain. I learned to see what I could control and what I could not. Sure, it was and is difficult when you can not possibly accomplish all you are asked to do. I've been around long enough to know what needs to be done, and what is not necessary.

Getting to this place took time and experience as a nurse. My heart goes out to the new-ish nurse, with stars in his/her eyes and all the heart in the world to be an amazing nurse. Why? Because of what you'll put yourSELF through in pursuing such an unrealistic and self defeating goal . But we all do it, it's sort of like self-hazing .

I had a male nurse coworker who was good for a belly laugh. He was the least uptight person I've ever met (while being a very good nurse). We'd laugh about the worst things, so it's his fault for encouraging me. My first thought when I read the title to this thread was "what do I tell myself? That there's a fifth of Jack Daniel in the glove box."

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

What I tell my patients/families for a little perspective:

Sir, breathing is only optional when you're dead!

Pain is good...it means you're ALIVE!

Sir, being in the ICU is like having the flu...you feel horrible & just wanna curl up & sleep/die. When you are over the hump, you start complaining about the room temp, bad food, lack of adequate tv channels, etc, so it's time to get out!

Sometimes when they get a little perspective, my day is much improved! Otherwise it's the standard I can do anything for 12 hours! Or I deserve a drink tonight!