Feel like I'm handling this pandemic as well as others

[mermer_rn, BSN]

My work-life has been turned upside down. I went PRN in my position and have found myself floating all over, largely to COVID units. My state, like many others, has a large and frightening uptick in cases and hospitalizations. Last shift one of my patients required non-sedated intubation, due to there not being an available ICU bed and no ICU nurse to care for them, so I had to take on this pt for 3 hours along with my other 4 pts until a bed opened up. The another pt was coded and did not make it. I along with other nurses cleaned them up and put them in a bag and then I alone wheeled them down to the morgue, which was full...and there were 5 other bodies lining the hallway which smelled accordingly. I keep having nightmares about this scene, I'm not sure why and now every time I go to work I'm EXTREMELY anxious...but I don't hear anyone talking about these things...at work, here, anywhere. Am I handling this poorly?? Is this not a big deal?  I honestly feel like I have no idea what to expect at work and whether I am prepared to handle it. 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

{ HUGS} --its not just you ! and it is a big deal.

Stressors and Coping Mechanisms for COVID-19 Medical Staff

COVID-19 has stretched everyone's coping abilities.  Dealing with frequent codes, deaths and extra work stress along with being masked all day, often puts nurses into emotional overdrive --which is all understandable.  Debriefing is important to regain emotional equilibrium.  

Contact your facilities Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  as they can help you dealing with this stress.   I've used them in the past when 4th code and death in 2 days sent me into overload (along with working doubles that week).  Their emotional support  + extra day off, helped.   When I worked Hospice, meeting monthly with a mental health counselor was built into the program.

Quote

Nurse burnout, stress from COVID-19 pandemic pose challenge for leaders

...2. Support debriefing/emotional support: Use existing resources, such as chaplaincy, spiritual care and employee assistance programs to support debriefing after high stress or traumatic events. Acknowledge extraordinary circumstances through continuous awareness and frequent interventions, such as well-being huddles before or after shifts or a Going Home checklist.

[macawake, MSN]

On 11/22/2020 at 1:18 AM, mermer_rn said:

The another pt was coded and did not make it. I along with other nurses cleaned them up and put them in a bag and then I alone wheeled them down to the morgue, which was full...and there were 5 other bodies lining the hallway which smelled accordingly. I keep having nightmares about this scene, I'm not sure why and now every time I go to work I'm EXTREMELY anxious...but I don't hear anyone talking about these things...at work, here, anywhere. Am I handling this poorly?? Is this not a big deal?  I honestly feel like I have no idea what to expect at work and whether I am prepared to handle it. 

You are not handling this poorly. There is nothing wrong with you. You are a human being having a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. 

Frontline workers who deal with the effects of the ongoing pandemic on a daily basis are subjected to a prolonged trauma. Dead bodies lining the hallways is not a normal thing. It’s a sign of a hospital that’s taxed over capacity. 

I think that NRSKaren offers great advice. Debriefing is important. You say that you don’t talk about these things at work. I don’t know how the culture is at your work but I’d be extremely surprised of you’re the only one who struggles with the emotional strain that working on the frontline entails. 

It’s my opinion that the employer has a responsibility to offer debriefing and care for the wellbeing of their staff. But if they don’t, are there any coworkers you feel you can share your feelings with? As I said, I doubt you’re the only one. Or do you have any other people in your life that you trust to discuss this with? Like a family member, friend or chaplain? 

If we work in acute care, most of us are probably used to patients dying. But most of us are not used to it happening on the scale that it is now. What makes it doubly hard is that it hits us at a time where our personal lives are also affected. We don’t only deal with the pandemic at work, but it’s present 24/7. We might be more vulnerable to stress than normally because so much else has also changed in our lives. 

While it’s always important for our health to eat and sleep well and get enough exercise, now it’s probably more important than ever. I think it’s also important to regularly try to focus on things that gives us joy and relaxes us. For me, both before Covid and now, nature has always been what ”grounds” me. I go for long runs, or walks and sometimes I just sit down and watch and mentally focus on the sea, or trees or a beautiful sunrise and just really marvel at the beauty of it. It might sound a bit silly, but it always de-stresses me.

Best wishes and take care!! 

[macawake, MSN]

Hi OP, it’s me again ? I just wanted to add one thing that struck me when I read your post. Since you work PRN and float to different units you might not get the benefit of support of people you know, like we do when we meet the same familiar coworkers day after day.

Since I’m not from the U.S. I’m not familiar with what kind of support employers are legally mandated to provide but I think it’s vital that you get the opportunity to talk about your experiences with someone used to dealing with these issues. You mention nightmares and anxiety. As I said, I think it’s normal to react to the kind of stress that you’re currently experiencing at work. And I think it’s a good thing that you’re reaching out here but I hope that you also get real life help to process this. 
 

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7370915/

The above is a link contains information that might be helpful. It describes the emotional toll in the form of PTSD symptoms that dealing with a healthcare crisis can have on healthcare staff. You are not alone. 

Again, take care ??

[mermer_rn, BSN]

On 11/22/2020 at 8:00 AM, NRSKarenRN said:

{ HUGS} --its not just you ! and it is a big deal.

Stressors and Coping Mechanisms for COVID-19 Medical Staff

COVID-19 has stretched everyone's coping abilities.  Dealing with frequent codes, deaths and extra work stress along with being masked all day, often puts nurses into emotional overdrive --which is all understandable.  Debriefing is important to regain emotional equilibrium.  

Contact your facilities Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  as they can help you dealing with this stress.   I've used them in the past when 4th code and death in 2 days sent me into overload (along with working doubles that week).  Their emotional support  + extra day off, helped.   When I worked Hospice, meeting monthly with a mental health counselor was built into the program.

Thank you. I need to look into support or some of the free counseling services. My hospital has quickly and quietly gone for profit and most of the few benefits as a PRN employee I had access to are gone...including holiday pay, weekend rate pay and apparently any and all support services, which were few to begin with. I wish it was a better time to job hunt ?