I Had to Cry at Work Today....

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I've only been a nurse for around 6 months. Today was one of the most emotionally stressful days I have ever had as a nurse. I normally work with teenagers, but due to high census, my floor has been taking off service pts when we have beds available. We had a 2 month old baby on the floor, in for gastic issues, ended up having a massive grand mal seizure, quit breathing, and got intubated at bedside. I was trying to comfort the mom, and yet I was choking back tears myself. I am not used to dealing with little ones like this. I hope I never see anything like that again. It still has me pretty stunned, as the pt had no history whatsoever.

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That is terrible. I am not a nurse yet myself but have seen a variety of things but think that seeing an injured, sick or dying child must be the worse. My thoughts are with you and the family.

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I am not yet a nurse but joining nursing school next month and i sometimes when i come to thnk of when i will come to face the real thing i see as if i`l be shedding tears every day.

Has anyone ever felt like this?

But i knw i can make it ,i have the capabilities

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As I've said, I'm not yet a nurse myself (CNA/caregiver for about 8.5 yrs) but my personal belief is that there is a fine balance of caring that you have to have to be able to do your nursing (or other medical caring) job effectively. You have to care enough to trudge through the difficult days, difficult patients, difficult families, etc but you have to be able to hold it together enough to not take things personally, not walk out in tears every day, and love your job. I think that it is a good thing and makes you a better nurse, CNA, or whatever if you feel enough empathy for others that occasionally you feel like crying (or even do). Thank goodness for a board like allnurses.com for giving everyone an outlet and a place to see that they aren't the only ones that feel this way sometimes!

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

The day I stop crying over the really sad/emotional situations is the day I need to find a new job! I'm in ER now, and I don't cry every day or even every week, but I have had my nights. I'm one who falls apart after the fact, my co workers know that and all is good.

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I am a cna and I work in postpartum and I pray everyday that I would never see a situation like that. But I know it happens and we have no control over it. My heart goes out to you and the baby's family.

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Yes It is sad. I work at a children hospital. I c a lot.. u jus got to be strong n have hope, these kids r fighters. they dont give up. and jus do all u can do..

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Specializes in paediatric and trauma.

How sad things like this are very emotional:cry:

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

sorry you had a rough day, christine.

i remember the first unsuccessful pedi code i worked. i think i cried for 3 hours straight and was actually considering leaving health care.

i think i've gotten alot more poker-faced over the years, probably from working in EMS, but there are still times where i need to step out and just cry. i would be very unhealthy otherwise.

it's hard sometimes to detach, esp when you are in peds. remember that it's ok to cry, hun. yes, you're a nurse.... but you're still human. sending hugs your way.

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well.. what's the prognosis? depending on if that's good, i think it could make you feel a bit better :)

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
well.. what's the prognosis? depending on if that's good, i think it could make you feel a bit better :)

The kid survived the code (albeit was intubated), but we believe the child may be mentally retarded.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
sorry you had a rough day, christine.

i remember the first unsuccessful pedi code i worked. i think i cried for 3 hours straight and was actually considering leaving health care.

i think i've gotten alot more poker-faced over the years, probably from working in EMS, but there are still times where i need to step out and just cry. i would be very unhealthy otherwise.

it's hard sometimes to detach, esp when you are in peds. remember that it's ok to cry, hun. yes, you're a nurse.... but you're still human. sending hugs your way.

Thanks Flightnurse2b, I'm ok now, but I don't think I'd ever dealt with something so sad before.

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