How do you leave it at work?

Published

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency.

Hi everyone! I'm a new nurse and I had a really bad day a bit ago with a patient who I had to call our rapid response team for and he ended up in the ICU (I have no idea other than that, HIPAA and all) and a small part of me wants to know how he is doing. He was young and I felt helpless when I couldn't fix the oxygenation issue that was going on at that time (O2 sats dropping despite increasing oxygen to 6 liters-the only method we have on our floor is nasal cannula unless respiratory brings it). I hugged his mother as they left the floor and that's the last I heard about him.

I've done everything I can think of to leave it at work but it still nags at me occasionally that I want to know how he's doing. Logically, I know that it's honestly none of my business, I'm there for my shift to take care of my patients and go home and return on my next scheduled shift to do the same. I have no desire to call and find out or do any of the creepy things I've read/heard about nurses doing (showing up to the room to check in on my days off, calling, sending flowers, etc.). I honestly just have a curiosity that I know can't ever be satisfied and I think it's because he was the first patient who left the floor on my shift to go to a higher level of care. I've had fleeting thoughts of other patients, too, who have touched me in some way, whether it be how sweet they were to me or how kind their family was.

I just need to know: what kind of methods do you use to leave it at work? I know this is one of the (I'm sure many) places I need to improve.

nurse%20stress.jpeg

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I intentionally do not work close to my home. My commute is about 45 minutes. I use that time to leave home at home (equally as important) and work at work. I also crank up the oldies station (I'm 60- it's Top 40 to me :) ) and sing- LOUD. It helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Registered Nurse.

It's sometimes an issue for me. I have to concentrate on blocking things out at times.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency.
I intentionally do not work close to my home. My commute is about 45 minutes. I use that time to leave home at home (equally as important) and work at work. I also crank up the oldies station (I'm 60- it's Top 40 to me :) ) and sing- LOUD. It helps.

That's a great idea! I live really close to work so maybe I'll just take the long way home and give it a try :)

It's sometimes an issue for me. I have to concentrate on blocking things out at times.

I'm "glad" (for lack of a better word) that I'm not alone in this. I was feeling like I was doing something wrong as a nurse for thinking about it. I know I have a LOT to learn and that at this point (a month in) I don't even know what I don't know, so I'm trying to ask a lot of questions to get my bearings. You all have been really helpful, just by reading through threads I have learned so much!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Just as there are things at home that come with me to work, there are things at work that just don't stay there.

It's usually regret. Something I didn't do, or something I shouldn't have done. Some things just can't be resolved in my 12 hr shift.

After all these years, I still can't manage to totally keep work at work, but it's 100x better than it used to be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's just a job.

6L NC doesn't seem like much, honestly he probably went to the ICU on CPAP/BIPAP (ABG depending) or got intubated then extubated a day or so later. Being young helps immensely with respiratory failure and without knowing too many details I bet he did okay.

Just my 2 cents after working in an ICU so please don't lose sleep over this patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It's just a job.

I wouldn't say it's "just a job". It's a job where you are taking care of others and they depend on you to do just that. If you think of it as " just a job", how can you be compassionate and caring for your patients? I think it's absolutely normal for you to feel this way. I think it would be unhuman if you didn't. Why do we get in this profession in the first place? Because we have a passion for other people and we have a caring nature! It's never "just a job" to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I wouldn't say it's "just a job". It's a job where you are taking care of others and they depend on you to do just that. If you think of it as " just a job", how can you be compassionate and caring for your patients? I think it's absolutely normal for you to feel this way. I think it would be unhuman if you didn't. Why do we get in this profession in the first place? Because we have a passion for other people and we have a caring nature! It's never "just a job" to me.

How long have you been a nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
How long have you been a nurse?

I don't believe that matters. Whether I've been a nurse 5 years, 10 years, or 20. I have and will never look at it that way. If I did, I would hate what I do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't believe that matters. Whether I've been a nurse 5 years, 10 years, or 20. I have and will never look at it that way. If I did, I would hate what I do.

So not long? Less than 6 months?

All I need to know. Come back to me in a few years and we can reconvene this discussion .

Up Vote Up Vote ×
So not long. Less than 6 months? All I need to know.

I would hate to have you as my nurse. I feel for your patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And actually no. Not less than 6 months.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion