How Do You Cope?

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

We always have a lot of sick kids in our unit, but right now we have a ton of just really sad situations.

The family/social situations are just so heartbreaking in some cases. The drug addicted moms that abuse their babies yet keep having babies. The parents that try for SO LONG to finally have a baby ..... and they leave the NICU empty handed.

Gosh it's awful. There's really no other word for it than heart-breaking .... it really causes such an ache in your heart

Do you ever just feel like you need a break from all the sadness?

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

It's so rough when it gets like that - and it can seem like when it rains, it pours. We had a run of dismal outcomes and catastrophically sick kids not too long ago. It worked out that NBN was pretty short around that same time, so we took turns getting floated up there. Turned out to be a nice change of scenery, at least for a shift or two.

Hang in there... this stuff isn't easy.

[Sweeper933]

We also seem to be having a run of heartbreaking cases right now... After some harder than most nights, a bunch of us will all go out to breakfast together right after work. It's a good way to "re-hash" the previous night, and just to get everybody's feelings out. As good as friends / family are to talk to and to vent to, nobody understands what we go through on a day-to-day basis better than our co-workers! (eating an awesome breakfast never hurts either!!!)

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Thanks Eric and Sweeper.

I've floated to our NBN only once and it was insane ........ I was so busy that night I really couldn't have much else on my mind! Going and cuddling with a healthy baby is a nice change of pace though after all the sad stuff.

And yeah breakfast is always good ..... especially when you have a nice cold beer to go along with it!

[preemieRNkate, RN]

And yeah breakfast is always good ..... especially when you have a nice cold beer to go along with it!

I was JUST telling some of our new nurses that every so often, there is nothing better than a nice cold beer in the morning! I think they thought I was crazy, but someday maybe they'll get it. :cheers:

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

We are going through a similar run right now. It makes no sense whatsoever to me.

Something else that makes me profoundly sad is when the parents can't believe that their baby has a poor prognosis. Their brain literally cannot process it.

When things get really bad in my corner of the nursery I take a mental health day. It doesn't solve the problem, but I always feel better when the day is over.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

How do you cope?

Poorly.

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

I was JUST telling some of our new nurses that every so often, there is nothing better than a nice cold beer in the morning! I think they thought I was crazy, but someday maybe they'll get it. :cheers:

Oh yeah, they'll get there someday! After some nights you just need it. We'll all get burgers and beers at 8 in the morning.

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

Something else that makes me profoundly sad is when the parents can't believe that their baby has a poor prognosis. Their brain literally cannot process it.

I know, that's the worst. They hold onto that little bit of hope and ask you something that just breaks your heart and you realize they're in denial.

Poorly.

:icon_hug:

[preemieRNkate, RN]

Poorly.

:icon_hug:

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

On top of all the sad situations going on in the unit .... a co-worker's baby was admitted just recently and not doing well. UGH

[NebraskaRN]

Yeah when the going gets tough it only seems to multiply. Our unit is busy and it has alot of tough situations right now. I find it hard some nights and I try to talk to other coworkers, but sometimes I feel like I cant explain how I feel.

:idea: