How do you leave work at work?

Published

I read threads on stress management in nursing, and one piece of advise I see many times is to not think about work on you time off, or in other words, "leave work at work".

For those of you who do this, how do you do it? Is it something you consciously do, or is it an automatic habit?

If I have had a good day at work and leave with the patients in as good or better condition than I found them, and feel I performed my best, then leaving work at work is easy.

Those difficult days when I doubt my judgement, or the patients did not do well, then I tend to brood. It is hard to let go without some analysis, critique, and turning over events in the mind sometimes.

Do you brood, or are you able to shut work out after work?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

I am better at this than I used to be. This is what I do:

#1. I shut my work cell phone off as soon as I leave the office (unless I am on-call)

#2. I refuse to check any work email at home (again, unless I'm on-call)

#3. I tell all my patients upon admission that after hours or on weekends, they are to contact the on-call nurse for issues related to their child's home care and their child's MD related to medical issues.

Now, that's not to say I never think about work at home... sometimes things happen and you can't get them off your mind. I had a dream last night about a child whose services were discontinued because I'm still worried that his mother is not caring for him appropriately.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I don't answer my phone, unless I want to, I usually give a 2 hr window for calls, in case someone has a question, otherwise I'm not going to call back.

I debrief within that two hour window, then enjoy my hours and/or days between the next shift. I have hobbies such as reading, painting, and a new one-knitting; I also enjoy time with my friends and family; I also enjoy a dose of "me" time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

Oh and when I worked in the hospital, I had the phone number of the robot who would call for staffing needs blocked. That way I wouldn't be woken up at 12pm after working a night shift with a message asking if I wanted to work tonight (which I was already working). That actually happened once.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Great Topic! Excellent Responses!

I can only add what Ralph Waldo wrote:

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm still trying to learn that skill. Some days I just get so upset I strew about it for a bit even after work. Luckily having a busy household helps me forget it ASAP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/MDS.

I actually don't have a problem with this. When I'm at work, I give it 110%, but when I'm not at work, my 110% goes to my family. It's just the way I operate. I do sometimes think about work, but not very often.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

For me it is easy. I clock out and I'm done. I involve myself in things outside of work and enjoy my family. On the drive home I decompress if it was a rough night but I don't talk shop at home or play what ifs. You cannot change whatever was done on your shift. Learn from it and move on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

You will get better at it. I decompress on the way home. I have a separate work cell that I use for work. I give all that I have when I am there and all that I have at home.

The would have, could have, should have.... I leave at work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in military nursing.

I live 2 miles from the base and so I walk to work. After my shift I usually jog or walk home, and this gives me time to debrief, so I'm relaxed and ready to enjoy my evening when I'm home. The last place I lived I would take the bus to/from work so when I got off of work I would go straight to the gym and do my debriefing there, usually watching silly afternoon talk shows and getting in my work out for the day. Never underestimate the power of a little activity to put the stress/tension from the day into something physical.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I try to remember the Fat Man's Law that says "The patient is the one with the disease." That helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.

As a brand new nurse, I would journal after a shift. What went well, what I wanted to do better next time... I did it mostly as a learning tool, but it is a great way to decompress, also. For some reason, putting things down on paper helps take them off your mind.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion