have you ever lost it at work?

TGIMN · Mar 4, 2007

I have been a nurse 14 yrs. and I still feel overwhelmed at times, and it does get better. Maybe you should work only 8 hr shifts instead of 12. Maybe you need less pts. for awhile.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Mar 4, 2007

I find I get more privacy in the dirty utility room.

Yep, the dirty utility is the best place cause you have TP in the cupboard, and a sink to splash your face. Plus if someone comes in you can just stand back too and blow your nose- tell them you'll be out in a minute, and there are no questions asked.

Tiwi · Mar 4, 2007

I find I get more privacy in the dirty utility room.

I've also lost it bigtime. It kinda creeps up on you, and can build up over several days or even months, so that you often can't even identify the original cause, and its become a complex issue. Once it caused me to leave a ward; I just couldn't cope with the place anymore.

Are you very self critical - it makes it hard to believe in yourself. Take what your preceptor is saying to heart: if she says you are doing a good job, then it is highly likely that you are. The other thing is, it is not often one goes home happy that one has done everything to their own satisfaction and standards. I often have woken at three in the morning thinking, OMG I didn't do that, or I'm not happy with this. I ring the ward up, and the staff laugh their heads off and tell me to go back to sleep.

If this is you, you are not alone. If you are beginning to feel sick, then seek help. Been there, done that, you will learn some good relaxation techniques, methods to cope, and perhaps some insight as to what is happening...

TrudyRN · Mar 4, 2007

Yes, I have.

Take some time to R&R then believe your preceptor and keep on.

UnidentifiedNurse · Mar 4, 2007

Never at work, but I've lost it once when I came home after a stressful and overwhelming day. I really did not want to go back to work the next day. Took me awhile to decide if I wanted to call in sick or not, but I ended up deciding to go and face work again. The next day though was a 360 degree turn around for the better. It just shows that in nursing every single day you work is a brand new day. No two days will be alike.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Went to work even though I was feeling sick I thought I'd be OK. Had the family from hell. Nothing worked and I couldn't seem to get anything done. Couldn't get an IV in, orders got lost...you name it. I made it halfway through a 12 hr shift then starting crying when someone asked me how I was doing. Ended up going home sick. Every morning at work I feel like I just can't take one more day and I have to quit. Almost every night after work I can barely walk and I'm brain dead but I usually feel like I did OK. I'm almost off orientation. My preceptor keeps telling me I'm doing great. I tell her I can't do this and she says "You ARE doing it...you have been doing it - you just need more confidence!" They tell me they felt like this too at first. I don't think it's normal to feel so scared and sick inside all the time. I tried to finish today's shift but was just too sick. Once I started crying I just couldn't pull myself together. I could no longer function. I should have never gone to work sick. Now I'm worried that I was doing so well on orientation but now they'll think I can't do it. Does anyone else ever feel like this?

I was chatting with one of our first-year nurses, last night. After six months, she says she has decided to stay on our floor, after all. Until now, she said her plan had been to try to stick it out a year, then find a new unit or new hospital. She had a good point--if she goes somewhere else, she is likely to have to go through much of what she has just gone through, all over again. I told her if she can handle our floor, there won't be much she can't handle. (Our neuro/neurosurg unit is looked upon with dread by some of the nurses from other floors who've floated here. It is a tough, busy unit, though perhaps not as bad as people think. Some of our scariest patients are off-service. But I think I was right. I think if you can handle your first assignment, you can most likely learn to handle about any assignment.)

It has been interesting to watch this young woman go through much the same ordeal I did. Being a guy, I've been less inclined to display my feelings openly, but when I've seen her in tears, I've known just how she felt. I do imagine being older may have made it a little easier for me to handle. Life experience does give one some perspective. But for all my manly stoicism, I don't think my more experienced co-workers had any trouble recognizing my deer-caught-in-headlights moments.

It can almost be a little frustrating to hear people tell you again and again that you're doing great, when you know inside you're struggling to keep your head above water. They aren't lying: sometimes just surviving is an accomplishment, and if your patients make it through the shift, too, that's a bonus!

One thing to remember, though, is that the "You're doing great!" phase doesn't last forever. As you get to be less of a newbie, expectations rise, and there may well be times you don't meet them. A couple of months ago, I got my butt chewed a bit by one of the doctors I never minded paging, because she didn't make you feel like an idiot, even when you were one. She was very civil about it, but "This is unacceptable..." from her was harder to hear than "You stupid @#%$$" from someone else might have been. Still, I probably learned more from that (and subsequently debriefing with a couple of more experienced nurses) than a whole boat-load of "You're doing greats." (Not that a little encouragement hurts, now and then...)

mugg54 · Mar 5, 2007

Lannisz,

I too lost it at work! In hindsight I was lucky I didn't lose my license too! I was the new kid on the block too at the time! After I got off orientation, it seemed like I would always have the assignments with the worst patients! I had this challenging patient for like two weeks straight! He was alert and oriented,but was really acting out! He had recently been diagnosed HIV+. A couple of times he said "If I am dying I am taking out as many with me as possible!" Well, he had the habit of taking blood, feces or whatever and trying to smear that all over the staff! :eek: Yes, he later rightfully ended up on the Psych floor! Anyway, he was beyond a challenge to care for!

Anyway, I went into work one night and they had someone else assigned to this pt. I was so happy until this one nurse said right in front of me "Let the newbie take him again, he is a pain, and she needs to learn to deal with it." :angryfire I said "No, thanks I have had him for weeks now!" Well the charge Nurse was her friend, and she changed the assignment right in front of me and gave me the patient! I was so upset and I also had a lot of terrible things going on in my life at the time (husband was on drugs, adolescent daughter that was acting out). Anyway, I just LOST it! I grabbed my bag and said "You know what she CAN take him because I am out of here!" and I proceeded to go get on the elevator and leave the hospital! When I got home (this was before cell phones were popular) the Nsg. Supv. called and asked what happened and I told her. The next day my Nurse Manager called and I had to go and meet with her and the Charge Nurse! The Nurse manager was very fair! She had heard many stories of the Charge Nurse showing favortism to her friends, so she actually DID not fire me and really took up for me! She did scold me for walking out and told me to NEVER pull that stunt again! :sniff: I was embarrassed, I had done it, but I went back and worked at that job for like 10 more years! I never had that problem again! Shortly after that incident the Charge Nurse was assigned to another floor away from all her buddies!:rotfl:

Anyway, I know just how you feel! Sometimes it does just get to the point where you feel like you can't take it anymore! When I feel like that at work now, I just try and go on a quick break and re-group, say a positive affirmation and say the Serenity prayer! It does help! I also learned if I have TOO many of those days, that it is probably time to find a new job, or move to a new floor or something!

Well good luck, I hope things get better!

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Yes I have lost it at work, NBD

live and learn

play more golf

maryloufu · Mar 6, 2007

I am a newbie- and I did not read all of the above posts- so I hope that this is not a repeat of anyone. When I start having the crazy feelings:eek:- like I can't take anymore- like Saturday when I got a post cath patient about 45 mins before shift change and he was in terrible pain- so I am trying to get him something for pain, get assessment and charting done, and see about post cath orders- then I get a call that he is on a drug trial and he has to have a lot of extra 'special' labs, tests etc. At that point I was about to cry:bluecry1:. But I do what I always do when the last straw is headed for the camels back- I say a little prayer for wisdom and strength and I decide what I absolutely must do next- then I do it. And I ask for help when I need it- except that every other nurse on the floor had just received at least one new admit around the same time- :smackingfThey freaking slammed us! I made it through- was out only 15 mins late- (it especially helps to have an understanding night shift:flowersfo). So there is my hint- Say a prayer and do the most important thing- (ABCs!):w00t:

Mulan · Mar 6, 2007

Yes I have lost it at work, NBD
live and learn
play more golf

what is NBD?

Debra ACRN · Mar 6, 2007

I had the same feelings when I was a new grad. I really was ok with the work, I just hated the hospital, it didn't feel comfortable. I stuck it out for 18 months, went back to school for my BSN, moved into Public Health and never looked back. The hospital isn't the only place. There are lots of nurses and a great variety of positions. It's good to learn where you are, but it doesn't have to always feel awful. I go home happy (exhausted but happy) every night. Take care Debra

BULLYDAWGRN, RN · Mar 6, 2007

About a yr ago we had just admitted a 14yr boy with a severe head injury from a mva right outside the hospital. we were waiting to find a neuro center that wasnt on "by pass"... needless to say it was stress ful, well the poor boy crashed about twice and we were always able to get him back. but finally he crashed for good, while waiting on medivac flight. But as you all no there is no time to mourn or feel sorry for yourself cause we needed his bed for a ortho hip pt that lost alot of blood in or. Well about 3hrs later the tension just got to a few of us, and we were sort of bickering at each other. The final blow was when a orthopod threw a chart on the floor that hit my foot cause a lab was in the wrong section. When that chart hit my foot, it was like someone throwing hot water in my face, so I picked up the cahrt walked over to the guy and told him if he ever threw anything at me again I was going to beat his baldheaded ass... and I get off work in 4hrs and he could meet me in the parking lot. Needless to say he let the unit and squeled all the way to the don and hospital ceo. After everything came out nothing was said or done..