How do I separate from my job?

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Hello, this is my first time actually posting on here.

I'm a new grad in a Surgical ICU in a trauma center. Orientation has been less than smooth and very disorganized (multiple preceptors, they didn't know I was coming the first day). They are talking about extending my time which I am MORE than okay with because I know I'm not ready. I am told I am practicing safely but I am just not in a place to progress yet.

I know the first year of nursing is tough for everybody but I feel like this job is eating me. I am stressed all the time and I feel like I am getting truly depressed (I have had clinical depression before so I can kind of feel it coming on). I live by myself (except for my cat) and most of my friends have moved away and my family lives 3 hours away. I don't have much of a support system. I guess my main question is how do you separate yourself from your job at the end of the day? All I do is think about what I did wrong and I go over things in my head repeatedly. It's making me hate nursing and hate my job. I want to stick it out for at least a year but I'm wondering if moving closer to my family would be a bad idea?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I have never met a nurse who is happy in her/his career that did not have multiple outside interests. One of my first mentors teamed up with a co-worker as a long-haul (commercial) truck driver on long weekends. Another one teaches knitting. A good friend and her hubs recently started taking flying lessons. The key is to have a real 'life' so that your job is not everything. When you take off those scrubs, you can leave work behind and engage in something that you really enjoy. If nothing else, join an adult bowling league, salsa lessons or recreational softball team. If you're not athletic, what about a book club? There are a lot of options out there.

The best outcome? Those other activities will enlarge your circle of friends & that's always a real bonus. It's important to have 'civilian' friends to help you stay grounded.

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Consider yourself lucky cause you got in... Nursing is very stressful, it's not easy at all, all I can tell you is, try to hold on and get that experience... Its been more than a year already since i passed my NCLEX, and im not even employed ... :(

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Try to develop an interest in a physical activity, like spinning, walking, jogging, tennis, anything. The physical activity will engage your interest, take up time, and help stave off the depression. And who knows who you will meet on your daily walks or sessions at the gym?

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Going fishing always does the trick for me ;D

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