Developing a thick skin

[canche]

Please tell me it gets better with time. I'm a pretty new ED nurse and have noticed that it's a pretty cut throat environment and that's fine, it sort of has to be, but I have such a hard time dealing with the nasty and rude patients. Especially the ones with money who just berate you and put you down for things that aren't even your fault. A woman just "fired" me the other day because I mistakenly inserted her foley into her lady parts on my first attempt. Like seriously. My job makes me really dislike most human beings...when did everyone become so rude and entitled? Any tips on how to deal with people like that? I take it way too personally because I feel like I'm doing my best to help them and they act like that?

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

The more people try to tell you how important or well to do they are, the more they really aren't.

Sometimes being fired by a nasty person is a blessing. If it hadn't been you it would have been someone else. Dont take it personally. Some people need to create drama and draw attention to themselves with every encounter.

At least you have time limited encounters with such people. Other units might have them for weeks.

[BecomingNursey]

It gets better. It still stings right now because you're still new, everything is shiny, you like looking for the good in people. I'm the same way. I'm very naive and like to think the best of people even if they've already been rude. I normally try to think about what they must be going through to make them act like such a miserable human being.

People are rude. Most, are only out for themselves. They couldn't care less about what happens to you or that you leave that shift nearly in tears because of the rude, awful things they said to you.

The thick skin will come. You will callous. Just treasure the good days when you do have a patient or patient's family member put their arms around you and tell you thank you for everything. The good days make the bad days worth it.

Keep your chin up and do your best. Just remember, one patient at a time. That's all you can do. :) Good luck!

[canche]

Thanks for taking the time to respond :). You are both very right in what you said.

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

Oh it comes with time. And you are absolutely right, I think it will a challenge to find a job that makes you hate humanity as much as ER nursing. I got burnt out so I quit it, but you will develop thick skin which is necessity in the ER because you will burn out of them. I always told new nurses when they asked me for tips on this and mine was "keep the doctor happy and you will do fine"

[LakeEmerald]

Show them as much love as you can. Most people are scared and feel out of control and want to know someone cares. I'm not talking about being fake and gooey sweet. Just simple kindness and respect. I mean truly listen to their CC, show concern (even if it's BS), and get them their warm blanket(s) at the outset.

I can't tell you how many people have said, "Thank you for being nice to me" when I was just showing basic kindness. It makes me wonder what they've encountered in the past.

Then, if I encounter a true jerk, I do a quick analysis - what could I have done better? If there's something, I try to fix it and learn from it. If there's nothing, I put my wall up between myself and them. Some people are truly poisonous and you can't let their poison into your spirit. You have to block them off. You can do it. It just takes time.