Does Nursing stay at work, or does it follow you home?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2011

There is SO much focus on "customer service" and being a 'servant' (for lack of a better word) that a lot of time is spent doing non-nursing functions, which causes time problems. :down:

I haven't worked for 7 years d/t health issues, but I miss it. I went to school in the early/mid 80s, and from what I've heard here, a lot has changed about school. I loved being a working nurse (I still have an active license). Nineteen years of being an RN, 1 1/2 as a CNA in school (good experience by the way :)), and it's what I knew as a 'normal' life.

It's important to have outside interests (during school this is really hard- but it's kind of part of the deal). Not to work too much overtime (and turning the phone off if you need to ).

A part of the problem also lies in what you do/don't learn in nursing school- some new nurses here have stated that they feel they missed a lot- and that's very common, regardless (new nurses- if they have any brain at all - are stressed about mistakes and doing well). It's scary. But one of the more positive things about the internet and social media, is the chance to find support from all over the place

I'd suggest getting a job as a CNA- it's good for time management, and also the stress of nursing will at least be a little easier to see. AND, it is some sort of experience in healthcare that could give you a leg up with jobs later on. You'd have to get training (some long term care facilities/nursing homes offer classes MUCH cheaper than some CNA school- and may pay YOU to be there).

Good luck :)

blackandyellow · Nov 5, 2011

I am in nursing school and have been a CNA for six years. I made a rule for myself after seeing my first code at work that I would not bring my work home with me. I think about it on the drive home and when I'm home I no longer think about it. Same with nursing school once I leave I stop worrying about what my teacher think's about my wrong answer or my test scores. It doesn't always work out. It's frustrating seeing the media constantly get information wrong about a patient I took care of or my friends talking about something they saw on the news that they know nothing about and I can not tell them the truth or correct them due to HIPPA. As far as work stress goes I tend to thrive in stressful situations and dont feel the stress until after the situation has ended. Being a CNA helped me a lot for preparing for stress at clinicals. Some of my classmates have had a hard time dealing with difficult families or patients, situations, or rude nurses.

Cuddleswithpuddles · Nov 5, 2011

I just went home every night and cried. work always came home with me and it was awful. Do nurses experience THIS kind of stress?

Even in the healthiest and most supportive work environments, nursing is a demanding field. Period. The key is to have optimism and see definite progression in your skills and ability to handle the challenges. You may find yourself stressing, obsessing and crying now and then, and that's OK. Really! Make allowance for it, have a strong support system, find healthy ways to cope and learn.

What kinds of things do you find the most stressful as a nurse and is it at least barable?

For me, it is the possibility I can harm and kill someone. On a daily basis, this fear is very manageable. There are a ton of concrete ways I can keep my patients safe.

Can anyone tell me their own experience with [tremendous emotional demands], how stressful it was for you, and how you dealt with it?

I have seen some very sad things in my few years as a nurse. I cried. I wrote. I hashed it out with someone. Found peace in the idea that I did all I can and, if not, I can do better.

I want to be prepared, and I look up to all of you for advice. Thank you!

You can only gather so much advice and research. If your heart is telling you to go into nursing, then by all means do it! :up: Do not let horror stories and negative experiences deter you for seeing what nursing is all about with your own eyes. The very best of luck to you!

Ashley_Nurse · Nov 7, 2011

I just went home every night and cried. work always came home with me and it was awful. Do nurses experience THIS kind of stress?
Even in the healthiest and most supportive work environments, nursing is a demanding field. Period. The key is to have optimism and see definite progression in your skills and ability to handle the challenges. You may find yourself stressing, obsessing and crying now and then, and that's OK. Really! Make allowance for it, have a strong support system, find healthy ways to cope and learn.
What kinds of things do you find the most stressful as a nurse and is it at least barable?
For me, it is the possibility I can harm and kill someone. On a daily basis, this fear is very manageable. There are a ton of concrete ways I can keep my patients safe.
Can anyone tell me their own experience with [tremendous emotional demands], how stressful it was for you, and how you dealt with it?
I have seen some very sad things in my few years as a nurse. I cried. I wrote. I hashed it out with someone. Found peace in the idea that I did all I can and, if not, I can do better.
I want to be prepared, and I look up to all of you for advice. Thank you!
You can only gather so much advice and research. If your heart is telling you to go into nursing, then by all means do it! Do not let horror stories and negative experiences deter you for seeing what nursing is all about with your own eyes. The very best of luck to you!

Thank you very much for all your help, everyone!! I saw that you suggested I become a CNA first -- do you know how much schooling is involved in that? I don't want to delay my nursing program, but on the other hand, I want to be prepared in the best way possible. Would shadowing nurses/ volunteering at a hospital help in the place of being a CNA?

I think my problem with the job where work came home with me wasn't anything like nursing, I think! It was a sales job for print advertising in a city where no businesses liked advertising, and I kid you not, even if I reached my goal, my boss would threaten to fire me if I didn't get one more advertiser. I was constantly getting harrassed/threatened by her, and the things she said to me were things that no human being should hear. I realize patients are going to be rude and whatnot, but I think dealing with patients would be better than that! When I was home, I was constantly trying to read in magazines to find new businesses to visit and throw a sales pitch to. I was basically working 24/7 for this company. It wasn't helping people, and I love to help people. I worked for a non-profit and loved being able to help people. I've always been good with sciences, too. I'm just so scared of making a mistake or just constantly worrying every night that each patient I see won't try to sue me in a few years. I guess that will come with experience and not haunt me daily when I am a nurse.. right?

I'm just so scared of what I don't know, misdiagnosing a patient, etc. I just wonder if it's a struggle that nurses take home with them. I have a great support system, and I definitely don't want to act like a debbie downer to my family due to the fact that I am worrying about if my patients are okay and if I did everything right!

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

I was an engineer in my previous career and was constantly taking work home. Literally and figuratively.

As a nurse, I leave it ALL at the hospital. It will be there for me to pick up again when I get back.

I wish I had some sage advice for dealing with stressful situations at work. Unfortunately, the only way to get good at dealing with those things is to experience them. It's kind of like nursing school. Remember your first Lab or Clinical checkoffs? We were all crapping our shorts and all we had to do was take vital signs without killing anyone. Well, look how much easier taking vitals got.

Same with any other situation. You watch what others do, you give it a shot and you learn from what happens. Pretty soon you are darn good at it.

Ashley_Nurse · Nov 7, 2011

MN_Nurse,

What is your specialty, and do you work in a hospital? Are you ever scared in a few years you find out a patient claims that you mistreated them/misdiagnosed them and tries to sue? Do you only get scared of that while you're in the hospital (or at work) and make it leave your mind when you're home?

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2011

MN_Nurse,
What is your specialty, and do you work in a hospital? Are you ever scared in a few years you find out a patient claims that you mistreated them/misdiagnosed them and tries to sue? Do you only get scared of that while you're in the hospital (or at work) and make it leave your mind when you're home?

I work on a Med/Surg Renal floor in a hospital.

I tend to not look for things to get scared of. For instance, the possibility of me being killed in a car accident on the way to or from work is probably orders of magnitude more likely than the outcomes you mention in your post above. But dwelling on the fatality rate in auto accidents really is not going to do me any good.

So I drive sober, carefully, wear my seatbelt, and do everything I can to make my trip safe. Same thing at work - I do everything I can to do my job well. After that, it's out of my control so I don't worry about it.

Ashley_Nurse · Nov 8, 2011

I've heard Med/Surg is one of the most stressful areas. Do parents ever harrass you? Do you make mistakes? I'm so scared of mistakes, but I guess that will make me a more cautious nurse. Just today at my office, I went to the wrong building by accident because I didn't see I was on the schedule to cover the receptionist first thing this morning. I can only imagine what little mistakes and cause harm, it scares me.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Nov 8, 2011

yeah it can follow you home, especially if you are the type who wants good results for your patients. That is a positive thing. When it becomes obessive to you, then it is no longer positive and robs you of energy.

But is it restricted to nursing? No. My husband frequently comes home with work issues. Work takes up a big portion of our lives so of course it is important.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2011

"I've heard Med/Surg is one of the most stressful areas."

Like many areas, it can be stressful.

"Do parents ever harrass you?

Sure, family members can be a bother sometimes. Part of the job.

"Do you make mistakes?"

If I did make a mistake, the very last thing I would do is post it in a public forum.

"I'm so scared of mistakes, but I guess that will make me a more cautious nurse."

But not a better one. You seem very fixated on mistakes and the consequences. I wonder if your fear might be straying into the area of paralyzing. Here's my suggestion: DON'T focus on mistakes. Focus on doing the very best job you can at all times. Study hard, listen to people who are teaching you and ask questions when you have them. Then teach others.

Do this in all areas of your life. Focus on doing the positives well. If all you focus on are mistakes, you are more likely to make them.

This is a weird example, but I had a hard time learning the game of golf. I would be ready to swing saying to myself "Don't lift up your head....Don't move your feet....Don't hit it in the water....don't....don't...." I was so focused on "mistakes" I made myself more likely to make them. When I filled my head with positive thoughts, "Relax, easy swing, follow through..." I did a lot better.

"Just today at my office, I went to the wrong building by accident because I didn't see I was on the schedule to cover thereceptionist first thing this morning. I can only imagine what little mistakes and cause harm, it scares me."

That's a good example of something you can control. Next time, check twice for the building you need to go to. Think "The correct building is X" avoid thinking, "Jeez I hope I don't go to the wrong building!!!"

Good luck!