How do you deal with emotional situations?

[Katbatt]

Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate your expertise in how you deal with emotional situations at work? I'm a nursing student currently on my final placement before qualifying. I've been placed on a oncology/haematology/hiv ward and am having trouble dealing with emotional challenges this presents. Recently, a patient I had met on a previous placement was admitted to my current ward and died as a result of pancreatic cancer, he was only 53 and I had got to know him and his family quite well. Although I knew this was inevitable, it has upset me so much, I can't stop thinking about it and feel the actual death was quite traumatic for the patient and family members.

I'm worried that perhaps I'm not equipped to deal with these situations, or perhaps maybe there is a way I can detach myself more in order to deal with these situations effectively. At the moment I don't think this area of nursing is right for me, but of course I feel I need to develop a healthy way to approach these situations. How do you all deal with these situations?

Thank you in advance for any advice

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I spent years in pediatric ICU which has it's share of tragedy, believe me.

My coping mechanism was to think to myself, "I am putting these feelings away for right now as they are not helping me provide the best care. When I am away from the unit- I will bring them out and process them." It helped me to know that I had time to deal with them- and maybe this will help you. I know how difficult this is- experience makes it better- I promise!