Emotionally attached to pts normal??

[jdelgado21]

Since I could remember I have always been a very sensitive and caring person. That's why I wanted to be a nurse. I experienced my first CODE BLUE on the floor. I jumped in to help and at the same time was overwhelmed with a varitey of feelings and emotions. I wanted to cry, but at the same time I wanted to remain as professional as possible. I even started praying like crazy. I finally had to excuse myself or else I was going to start crying. And I have also been emotionally attached to patients several times during my two years in the program. Especially the ones that don't have family in the area to visit them. Is this normal?? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I get emotionally attached to a lot of my patients. As time goes on though I have gotten better and better about not letting it eat away at me so much after I "sign off".I do still think about them and wonder and stuff but not to where it negatively affects me.

[elljayo]

i work in mental health treatment currently. i got into this line of work because i care about people. sometimes because of the nature of the work we get very close. but professional closeness is different from other forms of intimacy, it's kind of hard to describe and very important to learn how to manage - how to not cross inappropriate boundaries - as the professional it's my responsibility in particular to remain in control and particularly not to try to get my emotional needs met in those relationships. i do think it's really normal and i have made a LOT of use of supportive coworkers and good supervisors to help manage those feelings and attachments. Self-care is EXTREMELY important and learning to leave your work AT work when you go home - it's simple self-preservation. when i'm with a patient i'm 100% there, but when the appointment ends, i'm about 99% on to other things. i have to or i'd burn out big-time. my own life is enough of a handful!!!!