Is it possible to be too emotional for nursing?

[emilyleigh]

Right now I'm a freshman undergrad and am undeclared. I've been thinking a lot of what it is I want to do in life, have talked with career counselors at my school, and researched.

After a lot of thinking I liked the thought of becoming a nurse. I'm a very caring person and I love helping others. I want to choose a career where I'm up and moving and feel like I'm making a difference and helping others. I also want to make sure that I choose a career that will always be in demand no matter where I go, and has a decent salary. When I mentioned this to my parents, they said I was too emotional for nursing.

I'm really interested in pursuing something in the medical field, but my concern is that it might be too emotional draining for me. I don't think I would mind long shifts, seeing and dealing with messy things, etc. I'm just worried about how emotional I can get. I realize being compassionate is something a nurse needs, but is it possible to have too much of it? I'm also wondering if for very emotional people it can be something they just get used to after a while and it helps make them stronger...or if it will just break someone so emotional?

[grasshopper1]

Thank-You TLCmommyof3!! I am also a mom of 3 (13, 21, and 23). I am in the mid-Michigan area. I like your mantra. When people tell me not to give up I tell them "I never will, I have no choice." We are mothers, we never give up. I just need confidence. Nursing school has taught me a lot about myself. Now that I'm over the shock of having to stop school for a while, I realize that this was probably meant to be, so I could gain experience ( no matter where it may come from). Now I have to figure out how to put a resume together:) I wish you all the best and thanks again for caring enough to respond. It helps to have someone to share with!:)

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

I get stereotypically over-emotional right before my period. Lol I was fighting waves of emotion during my BLS cert class...

[TLCmommyof3]

You are welcome grasshopper1! Sounded like you needed a lil pick me up! I know it has been a real struggle for me at times. My kiddos are 15, 9, almost 3. I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd in my first semester of school. I signed up for 14 credit hours and I ended up with gestational diabetes, then I returned to school 3 1/2 weeks after a c-section! But somehow I just keep hanging on to my dreams of being an RN. I am excited but terrified to start my ADN program in Aug.

Mid-Michigan huh, that's funny cause I hope to move to Midland after my RN-BSN bridge at EMU. I agree it really does help to have other kindred spirits to share our journeys with! Are you going to work as a CNA? Best of luck to you in the future.

[grasshopper1]

Hi TLC,

Actually, I'm from Marshall, MI. I had GD with my first pregnancy. You sound like you got spunk! That's great, it'll help. I don't spend a lot of time on the L-top, just sort of check out what's going on occasionally when I get nervous, or bored. Yea, it is nice to have some one from MI to talk to. What I'm doing right now is trying to study for the LPN-NCLEX. I'm getting fingerprinted and registering next week. So maybe sometime in July (I'm guessing), I'll get to sit for the exam. I don't know what to do for work just yet. I'm tough and smart, but sort of had a hard childhood, so the self-esteem is on the low end. Oh heck, we're scrappy enough to get what we want. Where are you going to school? I went to Kellogg Community in Battle Creek. I just loved my nursing fundamentals teacher, Mrs. K. She was very hard and very sincere. I had a hard time with the one's that seemed like their careers' just fell into their laps. I know they worked hard for it too. I just seemed to get side tracked every time I wanted to start college.

You sound like you have a plan in the works for your degree. Don't let anything stop you. Take care and maybe we'll talk again later. Thanks for being a friend.

[nursingstudent3109]

Interesting thread

[Bobmo88]

Being an ER Tech, I've already been exposed to a lot of emotional situations but the ones that are toughest are pediatric codes, especially if you are the one giving the news that no parent should ever have to receive. I've never cried at work but sometimes it takes me a little longer to deal with pronouncing a kid than adult. I think that most people can definitely learn to control their emotion but maybe not all. Sometimes you just need to exercise to let out your frustration, talk about it with coworkers or someone who can relate or just move on right then and there because you have to keep doing your job, especially if it's busy. If you are not able to let it go then I would advise another field because you will drive yourself insane thinking about all of the sad things you see.

[foggnm]

This post is old, but to comment on this topic...it is ok to be emotional. Just find an area of nursing that is less emotionally taxing, like most outpatient areas. Nurses are needed in all areas and you can find plenty of options that will pull your heart strings less.