If you've ever cried at work...

zuzi · Nov 19, 2009

I am sorry Katie that was happend with you...yes I cried... but what you need to know is crying at work here has totally another meaning than in any other parts of world.

I remember that i cried because people was rude with me, I cried because the truth was twist, and I cried when my first patient here in US died and I cried when I took care of a nice man with a nice family and the Dx came back...are dufferent type of crying...BUT... all of them has bad meaning here.... A WEAK nurse, unable to control her own emotions... and is very BAD.

People around you will use your weakness and take advantage of it...... please don't cry at work....Yes you fell better after because you will see thinks in another way after.....

But if you cry closed to me always I will give you a hug.... just because I could fell your pain in the soul, but I am not like others...... so don't cry!

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 19, 2009

I have been reassured of my humanity.

shoegalRN, RN · Nov 19, 2009

Yes, I cried at work when I had to withdraw care for the first time on a patient. I held it together for the family, but as soon as I got the family together, I cried like a baby in the room with just the pt and myself.

Nobody knew I cried at work unless I told them. I believe in trying to be professional at all times. If I have to cry, then I do it away from coworkers and away from families if I can help it.

Hoozdo, ADN · Nov 19, 2009

Some of the most touching experiences I have had as a pt was because I had sympathetic nurses and doctors, ones that cried. My transplant surgeon cried over my bed after I woke up in PACU - that was remarkable.

I had an ICU nurse cry with me when my Mom had to be intubated. We both thought she was going to fly on Bipap - but not to be.

I guarantee if you cry with a pt or family they will NEVER forget you.

bill4745, RN · Nov 19, 2009

Many times. Once with an end-stage renal pt, entire family and I hugged and cried. Recently in my ER with a nine-month old cardiac arrest (accidental suffocation). We were all crying.

tencat · Nov 19, 2009

Yes, I've cried at work. I have cried with families when their loved ones die, in fact with my last patient death (work hospice, so see it A LOT) I bawled like a baby at the bedside with my arm around the wife.

We're human and we see a lot of cruddy stuff that the rest of the world doesn't see on a daily basis. I think crying is therapeutic and reminds us that we are doing a really difficult job.

I don't mind crying a bit with family, but I HATE it when I get peeved at my bosses and cry in the office...not in front of anyone, but I know it is perceived as weak. Thank goodness it doesn't happen very often.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Nov 19, 2009

I've cried at work numerous times - and yes, most of the time felt better afterward. I've never gotten through a fetal demise without crying but also cried after my first code, and after taking care of several patients that garnered a special spot in my heart.

Once, while my brother was in Afghanistan, I got a piece of particularly distressing news in the time between leaving work that AM and coming back in that PM. The news was so heartwrenching, it was all I could do to hold it together to come back in to work. Wouldn't you know it, I started writing down report, my pen ran out of ink, and I freaking lost it. My coworkers were more than understanding...just to make the point that it hasn't always been over patient care that I've cried at work.

bugvw70 · Nov 19, 2009

Absolutelty. I have cried with the family at the bedside after their loved one has died. I have cried when just walking past the ER room of a young mother who had just lost her 10 month old son d/t accidental suffocation while he had been at daycare (my son was almost exactly the same age and I ran to the break room to call my son's daycare and check on him...just because.) I have cried by myself and with my coworkers after particularly stressful events while in the ER. I have cried after leaving a shift at work where I just knew that due to forces outside of my control I hadn't been able to provide for a suffering resident as well as I thought I should have.

In LTC my residents are, of course, a professional relationship but when you work with the same people every day for weeks, months, and years you get to know them and even if they are "residents" to you, you are often "family" to them. Sometimes you are the ONLY "family" they have or know. When one of them goes you can't help to feel some pain and I believe that most family members take some solace in that. They often have misgivings about having to place their loved ones in a facility anyway and, from my experience, they are often relieved to know that you took your job personally enough to actually care ABOUT and not just care FOR their mom, dad, spouse, etc...

Never lose control to the point that the patient or family feels the needs to comfort you- it needs to be the other way around, but surely we can't be expected to put aside our humanity and if I ever find that happening in myself I will find a new line of work.

meluhn · Nov 19, 2009

I have cried at work after arguing with my daughter before work when it was still on my mind. I have also cried after a pt died when I saw the family crying. I sometimes tear up when I see a little old man or woman doting on their spouse of 50 years who has had a stroke and just isn't the same anymore. Its the love and loyalty they show that gets me, not to mention the loneliness they must feel. Or when I DC a pt I have taken care of for a while that I like. I have also been so overwhelmed at work that I feel like I might cry. In all of these cases I try to hold it together because I feel stupid and like I should be stronger.

Katie5 · Nov 19, 2009

I have cried at work after arguing with my daughter before work when it was still on my mind. I have also cried after a pt died when I saw the family crying. I sometimes tear up when I see a little old man or woman doting on their spouse of 50 years who has had a stroke and just isn't the same anymore. Its the love and loyalty they show that gets me, not to mention the loneliness they must feel. Or when I DC a pt I have taken care of for a while that I like. I have also been so overwhelmed at work that I feel like I might cry. In all of these cases I try to hold it together because I feel stupid and like I should be stronger.

This always has a soft spot in my heart,It's humbling to watch:)

iteachob, MSN, RN · Nov 19, 2009

Absolutely! In my days in the NICU, I cried on a number of occasions. I still get misty eyed when witnessing birth.