Nursing & Depression

Nurses Stress 101

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  1. Nurses and Depression/Anxiety

    • 401
      I think the incidence of depression/anxiety is higher in nursing than other professions.
    • 264
      I feel depression/anxiety has interfered with my job performance.
    • 260
      I feel nursing has played a part in my depression
    • 23
      I feel administration is as supportive to nurses w/ depression/anxiety as w/ other diseases

460 members have participated

While visiting in the lounge one day, we discovered that every nurse there was on an anti-depressant.

I have had 'Treatment Resistant Depression' for about 20 years--as long as I've been a nurse. Now I am totally burned out, on major meds, and am seeking disability d/t depression/anxiety.

I beleive years of long hours, high stress, high expectations and little appreciation (from management, not patients) has contributed to this.

How many other jobs consider you a tratior b/c you call in sick? And trying to get off for a sick child is an unforgivable sin. How many other jobs want you to work overtime on the days you are scheduled, call you at all hours of the night or day when you are off, first pleading w/ you to come in, then laying a guilt trip on you if you say "NO!" And let's not forget the mandatory inservices and CEU's that take time away from your family.

If any profession should understand the importance of the individuals' physical, mental, social and spiritual self it should be nursing--after all we are taught in nursing school about treating the patient as a whole, not just a disease! Why don't we treat our staff the same way.

Anyone out there in the same boat?

Sometimes there is a bigger problem than lack of understanding or knowledge. Consider the root causes of consistent socially inappropriate behavior, minimalizing another's experience, inability to experience or express sincere empathy, blaming and hostility when someone objects, glib and charming, able to use catch phrases but unable to process complex theories . . . well, you all get the idea, I hope. Pull out your psych books if you can't identify this. :)

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by Youda

Sometimes there is a bigger problem than lack of understanding or knowledge. Consider the root causes of consistent socially inappropriate behavior, minimalizing another's experience, inability to experience or express sincere empathy, blaming and hostility when someone objects, glib and charming, able to use catch phrases but unable to process complex theories . . . well, you all get the idea, I hope. Pull out your psych books if you can't identify this. :)

LOL! Youda,you are good......You gave me a good chuckle-first one I've had in quite awhile...Now-if others could see themselves as they really are....
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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Mario: I thought you said several pages ago that you were going to drop this subject?? Once again, you've really stepped in it!!

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why is it things go from bad to worse, than from worse to worse, and so on?

not to mention my depression worsens with each passing day, that's been established. we've also established my crankly gallbladder that needs to come out.

now, NOW, *NOW*........my cat has cancer. This may seem silly to some people, but to me it's devastationg. She's only about 6-7 years old, has a very large mammary tumor, which is spreading in a chain down from it. We only noticied it this weekend, and it was huge by then. It grew fast, she said probably because it started to fill with fluid. We had all sorts of tests run today, and it hasn't spread to her lungs. Other than this she is acting perfectly normal, and I don't want to have her put down, when they recommend surgery, which can give her a very good chance, provided the cancer hasn't spread somewhere they are unable to see. She needs an ultrasound first, she's had a heart murmer like forever, which was never explored cuz she was never symptomatic. But depending on the cause of the murmer, that may put the kabash on surgery.

I am DEVASTATED about this. I've just been crying and crying. I just can't believe it, it came on so suddenly, and she's always been so healthy. I just can't take any more. All I keep thinking is why, why, why????? The only positive thing is, my boss told me I didn't have to come in at all (I'd planned on coming in afterwards)...I just did phone checks and rolled my visists to tomorrow. That was nice, I thought.:o

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Sphinx- Cats have remarkable healing powers-that's why they are said to have 9 lives. Now if she's in no distress, dont worry 'bout her. She's blissful at this point. Because you understand what cancer is you are flipping out. Because she doesnt shes living her cat life. Insist she has the surgery. I bet she recovers.

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She has an ultrasound tomorrow afternoon and surgery Wednesday.

My eyes are swollen from crying so much. I mean, like, haven't I already been crying enough? I hope things go ok, I would just die if things went poorly.:o

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Oh, sphinx! I'm so sorry! If my dear beloved dog got sick when I was already dealing with depression . . .

Well, at least the depression could be blamed on "situational" instead of us just plain being nuts! (hope you don't take offense to that, depressives have strange ways of looking at the world, you know).

My thoughts are with you, sphinx. You have my prayers for your dear friend. Please let us know what the doctor says tomorrow.

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sphinx: Think of the wonderful things when you are in bad condition. I hope that you have very good in everything.

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sphinx: Think of the wonderful things when you are in bad condition. I hope that you have very good in everything.

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Specializes in Peds Critical Care, NICU, Burn.

Just reading through on 11-1: any news, yet, Sphinx? I'm so sorry. Having to go through yet another crisis when you're already low just stinks, doesn't it? :o Your kitty listens when people don't (or when people can't refrain from making comments when all you want is to lean awhile!)

Hoping for the best!

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sphinx- How is your cat?

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Sometimes I wonder if we could all work 3 days a week and take a 2 week vacation ever 3-4 months...would we have a shot at controlling our depression. Life today can be so demanding.

Nursing is so demanding on its own...then we have our families to take care of too...we become 'human doings' and give too much..there's nothing left for 'us'.

I'm catching myself getting back into this habit now that I'm back at work...and am trying to stop myself before the cycle begins again. My school is pushing me to teach more hours than I want,to fix problems I have not caused, yada yada...sound familiar? ;)

I've got to be strong and say no to those who would push me back into my illness. Not that it's THEIR FAULT I'm depressed but healthcare seems to love to drive nurses into depressingly overworked, inhumane states. Gotta be strong and resist this.

I pulled out my favorite little book yesterday: "Meditations For Women Who Do Too Much" by Anne Wilson Schaef. It brings me back to a more positive, strong mindset when I start to slip downhill...;(

Hugs to all here.:kiss I enjoy all the good sharing and information. :)

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