How to stop crying at clinicals?

anewsns · Mar 8, 2015

Yea based on others advice this sounds like an unusually bad clinical experience .. I think it's good to just be ok with crying (if you try to hard to make a rule against it seems like that would make it worse).. I'm not a cryer , but as someone else said I go in the bathroom and then also give myself time to cover it up as well..

Vickymay · Mar 8, 2015

OP what nursing field do your work in? I know when I worked in the ER I found that very stressful, we got a lot of.drug addicts and violent paitents so switched to the General wards.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

When the tears start to well up, chew some gum for a minute. Somehow, chewing gum turns off the tears.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

OP what nursing field do your work in?

OP has stated she's a second semester nursing student who wants to find ways to stop crying at clinicals.

ShelbyaStar · Mar 8, 2015

I think it's harder to avoid getting upset at clinical vs real world. You're already nervous, you don't really know what you're doing and the pts know it, you're stressed and want so desperately for things to go smoothly that when it doesn't it's easy to lose it. I've been really lucky so far with my pts but if I had a nasty one aI can totally see myself losing it, so I feel for you.

My tricks to stop tears:

slow deep breathing. This is calming, and it stops you from getting into that choking hiccupy cry-breathing that is really hard to stop once it starts.

Look up, preferably at a light.

Keep your tear ducts dry before it even starts- touch them or use a q tip or something.

Bite your cheek or do something similarly distracting.

If you can, do something intense like jumping jacks to refocus yourself.

Hope this helps. The big thing for me is to stop crying before it starts. Giving myself 10 minutes doesn't work because I'll relapse throughout the rest of the day. Once I start it's all over.

YanMinor · Mar 8, 2015

**edit - I see you edited your post and omitted a lot of original details, so my reply may not make complete sense to everyone else.

This! I was so lost by the second post of this thread.

OP, having edited out most of your post and information, it's hard for us to be of much help. I would agree with what most have said in that it is an issue if you find yourself crying every time you are in clinical. If it isn't well managed by the time you graduate, I can see that being a hindrance when you are a a nurse. I would suggest counseling, as well.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2015

Why are you crying?

amb_ram25 · Mar 8, 2015

Since you mentioned that you are in your second semester of nursing school, its completely normal to cry and have a break down. Usually the second and third semester of nursing school are the most difficult semesters for all nursing students. When you are doing your clinical you might see things that might trigger your emotions, a lot of things happen in hospitals everyday and its absolutely normal to feel emotional about these things, don't be ashamed of showing your emotions. I have a cousin who's now an RN and she told me before that she has had breakdowns at her clinicals in the past and at her job. A lot of people think that nurses have an easy job and we help take care of people by feeding them, helping them get dressed, brushing their hair etc. but thats not all we have to do in our profession. Clinicals are usually the most stressful part of nursing school. since you mentioned that you are sick of having breakdowns at clinicals have you thought about maybe doing a different approach? try to think as clinicals in a positive way. Just think to yourself that without having clinicals, you wouldn't be able to have a job as a nurse. Once you are all done with clinicals, then you will be the RN, and not a nursing student. Just try to have positive thoughts and if you feel that if you are going to get emotional and upset at your clinical, try taking a five or ten minute break if your instructor allows it, taking a break for five or ten minutes helps you think and gather your thoughts.

mariebailey, MSN, RN · Mar 9, 2015

0.5-1mg Ativan PO PRN crying at clinicals

Jsjrin, ADN · Mar 9, 2015

well written!

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Mar 9, 2015

I read commuters post and want to tell you that being called racial slurs by a pt whom you provide care to can be very hurtful.

I recall the 1st time it happened to me. The pt was total care, but violent. She could hardly move due to a stroke and drug abuse, but when she could move, she tried to kick! I recall she kicked me in the stomach and spit on the sweetest nurses face. (All nurses who have to tolerate this are sweet dears who don't deserve this, IMO)

The pt decided to call me a racial slur after I'd spent days caring for her-- brief changes, feeding her, etcetera.

The thing I am forever grateful for is a nurse telling me ( I was a Cna) that I don't deserve to be abused while at work. This nurse was not of my race. Her compassion toward me made me feel more determined to continue doing a good job caring for this poor woman.

From her example to me, when I became a nurse, I stood up for the CNAs who were called racial slurs. I told them, "you don't deserve that" and I'd admonish the pt, ever so politely, "sir, it is not appropriate to use that word in this facility." I did this more for the Cna to show her I cared about her. I knew the pt probably wouldn't adhere to my words.

I also recall providing a shower to a conserve octogenarian. She called my classmate a black ugly racial slur. My co worker responded so sweetly and said, "the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice" smiled and continued caring for the woman ever so gently.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Mar 9, 2015

My first semester of NS was on a tough med-surg floor. A few weeks into our rotation we had a young patient who'd been involved in a MVC, not her fault, that left her paralyzed and in a PVS. Early first-trimester pregnant. I remember that patient's name, what she looked like, and I could go back to the hospital and take you to the room she was in.

A few clinical shifts later, I was assigned to a patient who had been trying to elude police and led them on a high-speed chase which then led him to wreck his car. After reading his history, I lost it in front of everyone. Burst into tears bawling like a baby that it was probably someone like that a-hole who crashed into the patient in the other room and left her a vegetable. The unfairness of it all made me so angry. Why did SHE have to have her life and the lives of those who loved her shattered, while HE was supposed to make a full recovery?

My instructor pulled me aside so I could get it all off my chest. She made me report off and go home, then come back the next day for our next scheduled clinical shift. I went home and cried my eyes out all afternoon. (I had to make up the missed day, in case you're wondering. Fair enough.) But that day while we talked, she drove home to me three important points: 1) in most areas of nursing, things from a variety of sources are going to happen that will upset you; 2) you don't stop being human because you're a nurse, and human reactions are normal; and 3) eventually you will have to get back on the proverbial horse and ride again.

Almost 14 years later, it has gotten easier to deal with most things. You realize that you cannot save everyone and that the mean a-holes aren't worth the space they take up rent-free in your head. It does get better. In the meantime, if you find yourself in a situation that upsets you, it's ok to find a quiet place to cry. Like a previous poster said - a few minutes to cry and a few minutes to get yourself put back together. It is also appropriate to cry on occasion with patients/families who are grieving. You should also know that it's ok to stand up for yourself and that if you are being abused - verbally or physically - it is ok to say you will not tolerate it. Never apologize for refusing to be someone else's punching bag. Best wishes to you.