Cry Baby

[mpink74]

I am a nursing student and am a big cry baby when it comes to tragic stories of patients or just tragic stories in general. Will I get used to it and become a tough cookie or will I be walking around the hospital crying all the time??!! How long does it usually take to adapt to such a stressful. happy, and sad environment?

[fsh1986]

I've always been a very emotional and sensitive person, but I care about people and want to help, which is why I went into nursing...

I cried 3x in school, all in the final semester during my ICU/ER clinicals (which, ironically, is where I want to work eventually). We had a 9 month old cardiac arrest come into the ER during my rotation there. I have a 2 year old so it was very emotional for me. Made me realize I can't do kids.

Second time I was in ICU, a patient came in w/ a head bleed and was in a coma. Patient's wife was talking about how long they had been married and he was her rock, etc. I had to walk out of the room because I started crying.

Last time I cried, we had a teenager in the ICU who had been ejected from a car during a MVA and fractured C-verts leaving him a quad. It was hard for me, seeing a 16 year old who would now have to rely on people to do things for him, but also the amount of support and his positive outlook was absolutely amazing.

All 3 times I cried, I was supported by techs, nurses, and even doctors telling me that it was okay, it's okay for the families to see it because it shows you are human and compassionate, but that as time goes on, it does get easier to handle it. They also said as you gain more experience, you learn to compartmentalize and keep work separate from your personal life.

[mpink74]

I almost cried reading this!