Anxiety and frustration

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 3, 2011

I feel your pain! I have migraines and until just recently I didn't meet the amount of hours to qualify for intermittant leave because I was out so much. Like you I understand how frustrating it would be to find staffing, but that comes with the job and I'm no good not being able to open my eyes, throwing up, and laying down at home so why on EARTH would I go to work like that?

If you have a chronic issue and it's just revolving around stress then maybe your doctor can give you a note or fill out an intermittant leave form and then that would also take some stress off. :-)

hope that helped a little

charlie8025 · Oct 12, 2011

I hear you!!! I have recently had to take a couple of mental health days d/t stress. Took some time to realize what I have been suffering with naus/vomiting is stress, not sick. Never had it before I worked an overloaded med/surg floor. Currently debating a move somewhere - but where? I like nursing, but 5-6 high acuity patients is too much. After a 16 hour shift with a second scheduled, I was almost unable to form a coherent thought and was vomiting so I called in. Same thing, no one to cover, etc, etc, etc. Sucks to be a nurse sometimes, still gotta figure out what to do. I dont seem to be able to manage the stress during the course of the shift, then it gets worse afterwards. No help available, so seems like the answer is to move on. Anyhow, hang in there, hopefully it gets better......

Lucky724 · Oct 21, 2011

I use to love nursing..really..I enjoyed going to work, didn't think anything about the hours, the demands, but as things in life happened my sense of security in the world and my self esteem has dropped tremendously. I have job hopped and avoided life as much as I could in the past 2 yrs. It has caught up w/me - especially financially - to the point I HAVE to do something consistent. When you have a chronic issue - such as stress/depression and the symptoms of that - as you all have described - crop up - it's difficult to function at home let alone work. People begin assume you are irresponsible when in fact, its being SOOO responsible that has led to this - at least for me - I have no choice but to stay in nursing because there is nothing else you can do w/a nursing degree, if you apply for something non-medical they first thing they look at is the pay then question why you don't want to do something you've been doing for 20 yrs. and the job market is lousy - even for healthcare.

I have finally found a place I like working and could see myself there years from now - the problem is the PRN was suppose to be FT or at least PT but the end of this month - it isn't going to be because the 2 nurses who were not coming back from FML are now returning. I have a FT position in the wings which I have to take and feel much like Charlie above, just stressed to the point of being sick. What bothers me the most is I use to never be like this and now, this defeatist attitude is all I am.

CrazyCatLadyRN, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2011

Since I started nursing I have developed TMJ, IBS, a stomach ulcer, and lost at least 5 pounds. Not to leave out the psychological symptoms.,......moodiness, depression, and anxiety. It's ridiculous. The things this profession can do to someone. I have yet to find a good stress reliever that fixes all this. I think we should all be allotted mental health days :-)

elthia · Nov 3, 2011

Hi everyone,

I hope I am posting to the right forum but if not...please point me in the right direction!

I still consider myself a novice nurse. I graduated in December of 2009 and have been working for a hospital that is part of a large health system organization. I am just frustrated with the lack of support the nursing staff is given by management. My specific issue is whether or not to discuss my frustration with my manager. Overall, the morale of the nursing staff is very low with nurses calling in sick much of the time, an already understaffed hospital and being floated to units where the visiting nurse is not supported.

I had to call in sick this morning because I woke up around 1:30 am with a burning in my stomach. I was in the ER last week for a gallbladder attack and I think what happened this morning was a less severe episode. Regardless, I was in pain and called in at 3:30 AM to give them plenty of time to find a replacement. I spoke with the house supervisor and she basically asked me to come in anyway because she had no one to take my place. I told her I doubted I would be able to work and she asked that I check back with her around 5:30 AM in case I felt better. I was so stressed and feeling guilty about calling in sick I just laid there in pain and worried about calling her back and telling her I still wouldn't be able to come in.

I truly am sensitive to the demanding job the house supervisor has, but to be asked to come in when I obviously couldn't left me with such anxiety.

Am I being overly sensitive or should I just let this go? Part of my obsession with this issue is when I was much, much younger and more interested in having a social life than a job, I would call in sick even though I wasn't. I have guilt over that to this day and now I do the opposite. I go to work many times not feeling well rather than call in.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Let it go. You can't work if you are sick. If you go to work and have an attack of biliary colic at work, then how is going to care for your patients?? It is better to not go in, then go in and have to leave sick. Biliary colic is painful. Eat a low fat, low grease, low residue diet. Take care of you, get in with your doctor and see about getting proper care before you end up in pancreatitis. There are medicines you can take before meals to help with the spasms until you can have surgery.

If you are at work in pain, the chances of you making an error r/t you not being able to concentrate increase. For your patients safety, and to protect you license, you need to take care of yourself.

Don't let staffing bully you. If need be, look into filing FMLA to protect your job.

Good luck.