It's only Tuesday, and already it has been the most stressful week I've had since I've became a nurse. Yesterday, it seemed like everything that could go wrong, went wrong.
I work in a clinic as a CMA, I've been here for a year and a half. I've seen all sorts of things, but as any nurse can tell you, "there's never a boring day in nursing". I work part time here and I care for my Grandfather who has Alzheimer's disease at home full time. We are in the process of placing him in a Nursing Home because he has advanced to the point where he is unsafe in his home. He has sundowner's very badly and wanders and has become destructive and he doesn't know me or my Grandmother or his own home any more. Furthermore he has become extremely destructive and needs full cares.
This is the hardest decision my family has ever had to make. He was supposed to be admitted in the nursing home yesterday.
My grandmother called and left a message yesterday that his chest CT came back positive for Lung Cancer, and that also there were no open beds available at the nursing home and his admit was moved to next Monday.
This was upsetting, but not a surprise as he was symptomatic for cancer and smoked for 50 years. As far as the nursing home went, I figured we'd be fine having him home another week.
But things started to get real bad when in the afternoon my Great Aunt (my grandfather's sister) was brought in by her sisters to see my physician about recent disturbing behaviours and memory loss.
She was seen and my physician came to me at the nurses desk and asked me to call the Crisis Team. I was shook up but did as I was told.
To make a long story short she was transported to a Senior Behavioral Health Hospital for a 72 hour hold.
I was so shook up from all this happening I went home, turned on Dancing with the Stars and had a drink. I had a very hard time waking up this morning. I suppse my body wants to shut down and rest, but I couldn't because I had to be back to work at 8 a.m.
How do you deal with situations like that? How do you separate work from you personal life when they bleed together? I want to be like everyone else and go home and forget about work and vice versa...
I would appreciate if this discussion would stick to how to separate work from home life and how to de-stress.
Thank you.
to de-stress:
Dance, read a book, listen to music,talk with friends, do something that YOU like to do (whatever that is) that has nothing to do with caring for someone else.
to separate work from home:
distract yourself, if at work and you know the other person (family or friend)-decline care if able.
Thank you to all the positive support, it's nice to be able to talk somewhere and get good advice! :)
It is sometimes hard to avoid all people I know here. I work in a very small town in the Iron Range of MN, so everyone here knows everyone lol. I try to avoid having to room someone very close to me, but in this case my family had requested I roomed because I knew the situation. But I never would have guessed that it would have come to all that.
I think it was just a lot in one day. But I will try taking a few days off and maybe go spend some time with my girl friends.
You have a lot on your plate. And I do not see it changin real quick like.. So take time for you..go out for dessert, or even dinner, pick up a good book, a DVD, even a magazine about something you like.. Treat yourself, pamper yourself.. They are all going to be needed you at the top of your game! Share with a non-nursing friend if you feel more comfortable.
You take great care of your family, now do it for yourself..Keeping your self happy and healthy is the easiest way to keep work and home separate. Just my opinion.
CMALynzer
21 Posts
I would appreciate if this discussion would stick to how to separate work from home life and how to de-stress.
Thank you.