How do you keep from falling apart at work?

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 27, 2015

Sorry to hear what you're going through. First, take some deep breaths. I know it's difficult, but as nurses, we need to compartmentalize. Just like we shouldn't take our work home with us, we shouldn't take our home to work with us. Try visualizing putting all of those feelings in a box, sealing it up, sticking it on a shelf in a closet in your mind, and close the door. If at all possible and it's necessary for you to be relieved, try contacting the nursing supervisor to see if there is someone available to float to your floor and take your place. If not, give yourself a few minutes, recover, and get back out there. Sometimes, it's easier to stay occupied than to dwell.

Girlafraid13 · Dec 27, 2015

That's amazing advice.. honestly thank you. I'm sealing it all away for the next 5 hours. Nothing will be different in 5 hours so it can wait.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

Life is tough, but you are doing the right thing for not addressing this issue while at work. It isn't fair to your patients and it puts you at risk for making a mistake. Take a deep breath or two, take a cold drink, and get through the day. Take care of yourself.

I have a coworker who literally "dramatically collapsed" into a pile of mush on the floor when she was served divorce papers at work. Nevermind you this is after she and her SO cheated on each other and had been pretty awful relationship. I have never looked at her the same way again, not that I took her seriously before.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 28, 2015

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I've been there. I went through a terrible divorce, was finishing up school, and had to move 3 times, and I barely felt like I was holding it together. What you need to remember is that no one other than you is there for you. Bottom line is your job is your freedom. You job affords you the ability to move to your own place, support and feed you, and gives you the opportunity to have total control of your life when others are hurting you. You need to keep it together to keep your job. It's what separates you from being a strong independent woman, to someone who has to stay in a bad situation because they let their spouse earn a living while they stayed at home. Job=money=power.

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2015

Put it aside.... I don't carry my cell phone or take phone calls at work. Sometimes work can be a solace from real life drama