How do you cope with being a nurse?

Nurses General Nursing

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Agrippa

490 Posts

Thanks for the good advice everyone. Its has helped me to renew my dedication to my decision. I think that I also tend to see things ten steps ahead of myself. I think I'm just going to cross one bridge at a time and trust in myself that I'll be able to handle other challenges down the road as well.

Worst comes to worse, if I can't handle it, I suppose I can always lateral into a field that is....less visceral and emotionally taxing.

RadNurse55

12 Posts

Specializes in Radiology, Angio, PCU, Charge Nurse, OPS.

You might still want to consider the volunteer angle because you would get a feeling for the staff comraderie (or lack of it) in the unit where you hang out. It is not always the patients that are the greatest impact on your career. I love nursing and the people I work with and they make it easier to cope with the "other" stuff that is not so "glorious". I wish you joy and the best in your career.

GoldenFire5

225 Posts

Specializes in ICU.

It's certainly important to be compassionate and sympathetic to a patient's situation as a nurse, but you can't take on the patient's (or family's) full emotional burden or you won't be able to do your job.

Your job is to do everything you possibly can to relieve suffering, and sometimes you do get to see great improvements in a patient's condition within the space of a 12 hour shift. Sometimes the education you provide to a patient or family to help them accept a new medication or treatment can turn a patient's condition around. That can be incredibly rewarding.

The only time I've felt "emotionally heavy" was when I've been with the same hospice patient for a few shifts in a row and they've passed away on that 3rd shift. I think we're allowed to feel that way sometimes, we're human.

kristenncrn

138 Posts

Specializes in Peds (previous psyc/SA briefly).

I've seen some really tragic scenes. And I carry way too many faces, names, sights and sounds with me - no, not too many, just the enormity of each is immense.

I cope because I honestly tell myself (very, very often) that someone has to. There is a certain amount of self-worth for me in being that person - the person who can stand at the cart, or hold back the family, or even just run to get more epi or pumps or whatever. A person that can go into a room that a "normal" person would run screaming from and do something to make it better. Even when it's unsuccessful, I know my being there is more of a benefit - and someone has to help.

It is a honor that honestly cripples me with appreciation when I think about it.

Nurses, I think, are amazingly adept at facing reality - we have to be. We're in reality's face (and sweat and blood and gangrenous tissue, etc...) every day. Horrible things happen - and someone has to help.

So what an honor to be that someone.

And like you said - some nurses never see death, some don't deal with pain regularly (and some work with ortho surgeons - ha!). You might find that working in a trauma center is your thing and that it is the pscy setting that is too intense. Ya don't know until you see it - and you'll get to give it a try.

It's such a wonderful thing about our profession.

Just my :twocents:

RadNurse55

12 Posts

Specializes in Radiology, Angio, PCU, Charge Nurse, OPS.

Agrippa,

There are so many areas for nurses now that you will never want for more things to do. Even old nurses never want for a job. There is always something out there we can use our expertise in. And the most exciting thing of all.....we get to learn something new every day if we stay open to it. There are so many choices and adventures. Good luck and stay open to change.....it is on the horizon always.

Cheryl

lisa41rn

166 Posts

I graduated in 1997 at 33 years old. I was originally a business person and after losing my dad and almost losing my three week old son shortly after my father's death, I got into nursing. I was told by a teacher, after I was involved in an infant's case, that the best nurses often burn themselves out because they care so deeply about their patients. Well, that has stuck with me over the years and yes, I'm very much burned out. The fact that we are so understaffed where I work doesn't help. You want so much to give that extra bit of care and instead you get treated terribly by some patients who think you're sitting on your butt doing nothing. My last shift was to be 8 hrs, took over 10 hrs, I had no breaks, no lunch, no bathroom break!! All my patients were very sick and one ended up with a PE. I called the doctor and got things going, but I still feel guilty. I've questioned everything about him. Should I have seen something sooner, etc. I swore I would never go back to that hospital as I realized how such a serious situation occurred and no one really backed me up. Yes, I was told I gave him good care, but I wanted more than that. A chance t talk, some support. I was lied to by an aid regarding this patient, another forgot to give me info on him, etc. The care was the pits. I did all I could to give everyone some basic care, let alone good care. I'm so sad by it all. If you think you'll worry too much, maybe you might like doing something different. You'll burn yourself out as I have done and how my instructor told me I would years ago. At this point, I'm back at school for my Masters, but really want to do something where I'm a patient advocate. I want people to get better care. After all, it can be us or our family member laying in that bed!! Good luck to you!

razman2758

4 Posts

If you are going into nursing without experiencing any personal loss, it is not bad at all. It is easy to get over it. Certain things get to you such as pediatric trauma or young people dying from any cause.

When my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she had to go through hypoglycemia at home, GI bleeding and intestinal obstruction, I became a different nurse.. more emotionally labile esp after code patients who never make it and delivering the bad news to the family.

*ac*

514 Posts

I'm new, but here's my take:

It's definitely harder when you identify in some way with the patient or the family.

The bottom line for me, though, is that I don't have time to get very emotionally involved. This may seems sad, but that's the way it is.

One thing I always try to offer, is dignity. I can't sit with a crying mom, but I can offer to get the window covered up so she can have privacy...

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