Best ways to deal with the stress?

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Just looking for different ideas on how to handle the stress we deal with everyday? I've always been a "stress eater" and now that I have a high stress job, this is NOT working for me. Up 50+ pounds since starting in the ER. Not looking to change jobs...I love, love, love the ER. I just need better coping mechanisms and am looking for ideas. Especially ideas on how to immediately destress after those really hard shifts...i.e., ped GSW pt shot by the man he calls "dad". You know...the ones you take home with you after the shift ends. Thanks!!

Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Cool garden!

Whenever I'm work stressed I come on here! You lot are so supportive and have answers to almost everything.I also read other nurses stresses and strains and sometimes it puts mine in perspective and makes me feel I can cope with whatever is stressing me out.

Long live Allnurses!!:balloons::balloons:

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

I'm with CritterLover...I work out just about every day, and especially hard on the days after a crazy shift like the one you mention. I'll pound the heavy bag in my garage until it feels as if my arms are going to fall off or the tears sting my eyes too much. Or I'll grab my boys and go for a lonnnnng bike ride.

Talking about things is also an EXCELLENT way to destress. Luckily for me, my Team Leader is just about as good a nurse as there is, and she's always there with open ears....because there are some nights I just want to kick the sh*t out of some people either for their stupidity, laziness, or a deadly combination of both.

vamedic4

wishing summer never ended;)

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Specializes in critical care,flight nursing.

I always say;" nursing is not a job but a way of life!" You know people in office the get out and they become regular people, nurse not so much. I remember when I use to work night shift and was in the ER I would dream of taking care of a vent patient and been alone and he would crash. Then awake brutally not really knowing if i felt asleep at work or at home. Since you can't just let go you need to find ways to achieve balance. That is personal to everyone but a good book that help me with that was " the 7 habits of the must effective people" By Steven Covey( I think that's how it's spell).

After reading that book I came with different trick to cope with the stress.When I go to work in don't go with my scrubs. I change at the hospital. Cause when I change I do a psychological switch. I try to leave my personal problem in the looker and when I leave my work trouble in it.You have to learn to detach yourself from a situation. But careful with that one. Some people become so much detach that they forget to care about there patient and co worker. Or the deny there own emotion when they become to strong. Detaching yourself help in most case but sometime the situation is to much. In those case, talk with coworker you trust or you manager. Maybe even try to have a system in place where people could vent.

Don't be afraid to take days off. Sick days are not just there for when we cough blood and can't walk. Mental health is very important and don't wait to late. There many time now I do prevention. When I start feeling going down the path and no days off coming soon. I call sick. I spend the day in front of TV not doing anything, letting my brain resting.

Exercise is very important. On must of my days off I am in the mountain. Also, movie, plays, opera are all activity that help me to detach myself. Stay away from overtime. Many nurse at my center are working like crazy. What don't realize is they are cough in a vicious circle. They want to go on a trip or buy something. They work more to get the money. Work more get more tired. More tired more they need to go on trip or buy things to feel better.And here it goes again, the circle start again. The other practice is to switch shift to get vacation time. Some of them switch so much. They end up doing 7-8 shift in a row. Sometime full 12 hours. Is it really worth it for 1-2 weeks of vacation?? Schedule yourself sometime off, some relax time. One things lately I've been doing is using my i-pod a lot. When I get a break, I disconnect myself for a few minutes by listening to music. Also, I like social science a lot but never had time to read. So now I download pod cast on the subject , even audio book, and listen to that before going to bed.

In last, I still enjoy knowing about my profession cause IT,s a passion of mine. But try to keep up with magazine and book is very time consuming. So now I buy DVD of conference of review of program. They come to almost the same price as book but In an hour i can learn way more then by reading.One other thing we do at a center that help. Our significant other are authorize to come and have a shadow shift with us. It help them really understand when you come home and tell them:" it was crazy today!!"

Hope it help.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I have AWESOME co-workers and when I have a bad shift, we are all having a bad shift and usually someone comes up with something funny or off the wall and we all start laughing and the problems are gone. If we can't laugh, we can always talk about it and eventually it helps.

Our docs are pretty good too at seeing when the nurses are stressed beyond belief either from the situation or just the mere workload and they are good at pitchcing in which then reminds you that you are a team facing this together.

I leave it all at work or in my 30 min. car ride home. Sure there are days I have more problems with that than others - but for the most part, loud music and signing all the way home helps. I come home, I take my nightly dose of meds, climb in the tub and let it all go.

My family is pretty good at understanding too - but there is only so much I can tell them because I work in a VERY rural facility where everyone knows everyone else. But I can vent about little things and that helps as well.

My manager is also pretty good at listening and trying to help come up with soluations to our problems. She is good to call when one can't take it anymore and things are going crazy. She can usually help us put it in perspective and come up with a quick solution.

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Specializes in ER-Adult and Peds, also ICU.

I am currently working agency ER, but the ER I am working is close to home and the people are great.My stress levels are off the hart. I would like to try yoga! I think the stretching ight help my pain and stress level. I used to spend a lot of time with the medics, firemen, and cops drinking in the morning. We blew off a lot of steam together, but now with a 13mo son I have to come straight home. No stress relief at all.

I don't know if it is stress or not,but I am sooo tired all the time and my body pain is 10x worse than it was 5 years ago. Can someone advise about yoga? We have a class here in town. Maybe it would help.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I am currently working agency ER, but the ER I am working is close to home and the people are great.My stress levels are off the hart. I would like to try yoga! I think the stretching ight help my pain and stress level. I used to spend a lot of time with the medics, firemen, and cops drinking in the morning. We blew off a lot of steam together, but now with a 13mo son I have to come straight home. No stress relief at all.

I don't know if it is stress or not,but I am sooo tired all the time and my body pain is 10x worse than it was 5 years ago. Can someone advise about yoga? We have a class here in town. Maybe it would help.

Wow, that's funny that you mention yoga because I've had the same thought. I want to do something that "reconnects" me with my body, rather than fighting with it to get into better shape, lose 10 lbs., etc. It does help to go out with people who understand and laugh yourselves silly, but I'm also a mom who lives in the burbs ... can't really get into the go out for breakfast & beer thing except on rare occasion. I'm also fighting chronic foot pain.

That's it ... I'm calling the fitness center tomorrow and seeing what classes are available! I hope you get a chance to check it out too!

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Specializes in ER, Outpatient PACU and School Nursing.

talk to my husband who is also in the medical field and exercise.. running is the best stress reliever for me..

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Specializes in ER-Adult and Peds, also ICU.

ROFL:rollI could'nt run a mile with a gun pointed at my head! Please no one take this wrong, I have a disabled daughter... But when I run I look like someone should be having a marathon benefit for me! Some people can run gracefully like a deer. They look so cool. Not me I look like I'm disabled when I run. I am clumsy and awkward. Just the thought of it takes me back to school many moons ago, when we had to do all the PE tests at school. You know, how far you can run and how fast, how many sit ups can you do in a minute. It is strange I can run for a 19 hour ER shift. But you put me actually running on the sidewalk or a track and someone is bound to call the police or EMS!:rotfl:

Tired Brave Heart

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Personally, I like to schedule a once a month massage and keep the appointment whether I need it or not.:yeah: If it's been a really bad month I'll go all the way and add a pedicure and a manicure to the day as well. It takes loads off letting someone take care of and "pamper" you for a while.

In terms of the really bad stuff, pedi codes, child abuse, traumas that wipe out entire families, our hospital chaplain (who is a wonderful woman) makes time for us as well as the families to talk, cry, vent whatever we need to do. It really is beneficial

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