How do nurses cope?

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Specializes in Family Practice, Primary Care.

I have one thing on my mind that has been making me nervous about nursing school.

I get emotionally attached to people fairly quickly, like my friends etc. I know that this is going to be dangerous in nursing because it could lead me to getting hurt a lot.

How do you emotionally detach from patients? Is it possible to do it 100% of the time? Is it viewed as ok to cry on the job? (I am a guy btw if that makes a difference)

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Specializes in Critical care, Pediatris & Geriatrics.
i have one thing on my mind that has been making me nervous about nursing school.

i get emotionally attached to people fairly quickly, like my friends etc. i know that this is going to be dangerous in nursing because it could lead me to getting hurt a lot.

how do you emotionally detach from patients? is it possible to do it 100% of the time? is it viewed as ok to cry on the job? (i am a guy btw if that makes a difference)

jbeau, hi!

actually in my opinion, i'd be more worried about the nurse who had no feelinigs and no care at all. i've met plenty of nurses that are cruel and non-caring, i defenitely wouldn't want them working on me or my family memebers. i mean after time, and years in service, i'm sure some things come a bit easier, but as far as love and care it is a huge part of nursing, i think it makes a wonderful nurse! be who you are, and i think your caring heart will help alot of ill people. i am like you also and love the people deeply, but i also think its what made me want to be a nurse in the first place. best wishes...

amy, nurse2b

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Specializes in Family Practice, Primary Care.

Hey Amy, thanks!

But I guess my question is more, how do I still care for people while maintaining a safe distance? I think that may become a problem.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

While I care about my patients and find them to be likeable most of the time, I am not much of a tearjerker.

However, I work at a nursing home, and nursing homes are easy places to build long term relationships with the residents and their families. After all, the patients live at the facility, and you often see them more frequently than their own family members. Since many people spend their final years here before dying, I have witnessed plenty of death. However, I have only cried for 2 of my most favorite patients. For some reason, these 2 ladies touched my heart the most.

Please realize that human life is temporal, not eternal, and that no person is placed on this earth to live forever. Death is normal, not alien.

Also, if a person discharges home from the hospital, view this as a good thing since the person recuperated enough to warrant going home.

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