Going to work with a broken heart...

cacentralvalley · May 30, 2011

I spent four weeks in ICU after I became septic; when I first arrived via ambulance to the hospital the doctor told my mother (who had found me at my house and called 911) to gather my family because it dodn't look good.

I had great nurses, so great that I left my six figure job and am now hoping to begin the accerlated BSN program next year.

What you are doing at work is noble, great, and cannot be accomplished by many others. The great impact on people you have is special. Nurses make such a positive and tremendous impact on people that it could never be accuratley measured. You are hurting and I am sorry for that but the people you come into contact with will be positively affected by you for the rest of their lives.

Time may heal your wounds but time will never erase the positive impact you have on your patients.

Good Luck, I'll send positive thoughts your way and keep you in my prayers.

netglow, ASN, RN · May 30, 2011

Aww Poi Dog :heartbeat

Just throw yourself in to the technical aspects. Don't chat with coworkers or patients if you can help it - just the barest minimum. You know coworkers won't care, and patients who are nice to you will make you cry. How do I know this? I had something similar quite a while back. I thought I could mention it to someone at work and all I did was burst into tears and look like an idiot. The rest of 'em didn't care. I got asked a million times why my eyes and face were red. Everytime I went into a friendly patient's room and they were kind and telling me how good I was, I felt like crying again.

Hang tight, give it 24.

Black Jade, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

Whatever you are going through, here are some hugs to you!:hug:

May you find the strength and courage to get through your work day and in life in general.

BJ

rn/writer, RN · May 30, 2011

Write down your thoughts on a piece of paper. Slip the paper into your pocket. Let this act symbolize putting your heartache away for safekeeping. Then let go of it during your shift.

Knowing that you haven't ignored the situation but have hidden it in a safe place for later may allow you to disengage temporarily. It'll still be there waiting for you when you have the opportunity to face it without job pressures.

If co-workers detect that something is afoot, simply tell them that you're not yourself tonight and ask them to give you some space to figure things out on your own. That's better than saying, "Nothing's wrong," or replying that you're fine, when clearly you are not. This way, you acknowledge that, yes, they are seeing something different from you, but you aren't ready to discuss anything just now. Thank them for their concern and move on.

Maybe you'll have a busy night and your mind will be occupied enough that you can sail through the shift and come out in one piece on the other end. Giving to your patients can carry you forward like a rolling river.

Whatever is going on with you, I hope you will find the strength and support you need to handle it.

We're here for you.

SkiMama · May 30, 2011

Aw that can feel like the worst, but it can be a blessing in disguise. Depending on what is going on in your life, it can be good to have work to throw yourself into. Wishing you well through whatever your journey is taking you through right now...

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

aw, sweetie, just go in there and focus on the tasks at hand, one minute at a time. the minutes will add up to hours and you'll be outta there. then the hours will add up and the days will pass. ::looking around for a hugs!! smilie::

promise yourself that you will make a time for crying. i used to look at my calendar and say, "thursday, 2pm, that looks good," and giving myself that to look forward to made it possible for me to get there intact. then on thursday at 2pm i would close my door, put on a weepy movie or think the saddest things i could think of, make myself start to weep, and cry til i thought my heart would break. and then wipe my eyes, laugh a little bit, and go for a walk. done.

it's often a good idea to pull open the door of that dark closet where we put all the stuff we don't want to think about because it hurts too much. like mushrooms, though, those things grow well in the dark. they really can't hurt us if we pull them out in the sunshine, and if that removes some of their power over us, so much the better. plus they're smaller when you're done really looking at them, and they don't push on the door trying to get out so hard. plan a time for it and you control it, and it loses its power over you. this will pass, really. take care of yourself.

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · May 30, 2011

If you are religious ask God to walk beside you tonight. I like that footprints in the sand saying. I pray that you will be well tonight.

chicookie, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

*super hugs* I know its not easy going to work when your heart is wounded or broken. When I go to work like that I try to take mini breaks where I can pray, eat some chocolate (not recommended if like me once you start you can't stop), maybe listen to a song that makes me smile just a little just so that things are a little more bearable. When I would chart, I would tell the charge nurse I was going to chart in the break room. She was pretty understanding. If you get to the point where you need a good cry ask someone to see if you can have some time to gather yourself together. *hugs*

live&laugh&love · May 30, 2011

I am sorry that you are going through a hard time...I also like to write my feelings out, sort of a quiet venting to get me through that initial stress. At work I try to focus on my tasks and take the breaks I need to calm myself and splash water on my face. Just keep breathing and I will send a prayer your way...

madwife2002, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

I am so sorry I hope the time passes quickly (((((hugs)))))

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · May 30, 2011

Its not easy going to work when your heart is broken .. trust me on that one. But working helps. Going to work is the worst part. Even if you have to have a cheeseburger on the way into work to get yourself there.. do it. lol

But when you get there and you are running around busy.. your mind is disconnected from whatever news you got and focused on your patients. And at the end of the night your heartache just might feel better.