All I hear about Nurses seems to be... Nurses are scarred themselves,they all have emotional problems which is why they decide to care for the sick. I heard this from media both print and talk,family,friends...etc
For instance, on the radio show Loveline with Dr. Drew somethingorother.. He stated something along the lines of all nurses are emotional wrecks and that is why they went into to nursing, to help care for the sick but also to somehow fix their own problems.
Also, in my experience, 98% of the nurses ive come in contact with have been wonderful,kind,caring people. But I also sense they all have some underlying emotional factors going on. It's almost a different sense I get around them as opposed to the rest of healthcare workers I am exposed to.
I wish I could remember the exacts of all of what ive heard. Hopefully everyone gets gist of what im trying to say here.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Nursing Education, LTC, and HHC.
We are nurses because we care about people. Emotionally unstable people need not be a nurse due to the great responsibility associated with the duties assigned. Though there are some who should not be in nursing for personal reasons. Ie Drugs or whatever, those who are dedicated to the profession are because they enjoy helping others.
OK I must confess that my psychiatrist prescribed nursing school after a trial of anti-depressants failed. SShhhh. Don't tell. It's very therapeutic for me, really.
Yes, in general, I think it's true that most nurses have a psychological issue they are trying to work out, and that leads them into the profession. The profession and the tasks that go along with it are not something a normal human would want to do.
But in the case of the good nurse, the psychological issue has pushed them over the edge not towards dysfunction but toward higher function.
I work in cardiology (a step-down telemetry unit). My father died of an MI, and barring accidents, I will too, given my body type and r/fs. This causes me anxiety. I fear death, even though I believe in God and the life hereafter. My fear propells me to be around others going through what I believe I will go through one day. My hope is to come to grips with it and be able to accept it.
In this way, I am uniquely capable of forming a bond with my patients where I see them as myself. So, now I see that some other part of me has used my psychological problem to help me ascend to a greater spiritual and vocational functioning.
Hmm? Might we call that higher self the Great Nurse?
Sure we have issues, it's called growing up and on some of us it leaves scars. That does not mean we are emotional cripples or are in need of approval from our patients emotionally. I wonder what type of patient you would be? You have this opinion of nurses that is off of the wall. I bet if the best nurse in the world took care of you when you were ill, you would look at her as a freak. I generally keep my anger off of this board but on this one I am boiling. I hope I never have the displeasure of having a patient like you. Maybe, you are one of those people who can never do anything for someone who is ill, they are too self centered and cold to care. Wonder what your family would say if asked how you treat them?
Not true! We each have our reasons. Mine is my mom told me I was going to be a nurse (actually I was offered a scholarship for nursing school and she said I was crazy if I didn't take it). And I always minded my mother. She didn't lead me wrong. I am proud to be doing what I'm doing. Unfortunately many of the kids I went to high school with did not start or finish college and are stuck with mediocre jobs. THANKS MOM!!
Sure we have issues, it's called growing up and on some of us it leaves scars. That does not mean we are emotional cripples or are in need of approval from our patients emotionally. I wonder what type of patient you would be? You have this opinion of nurses that is off of the wall. I bet if the best nurse in the world took care of you when you were ill, you would look at her as a freak. I generally keep my anger off of this board but on this one I am boiling. I hope I never have the displeasure of having a patient like you. Maybe, you are one of those people who can never do anything for someone who is ill, they are too self centered and cold to care. Wonder what your family would say if asked how you treat them?
Cmon now. How did you come up with all that about me from one single paragraph I wrote?
Now that I think about I think the term the doctor used was: All nurses are extremley co-dependent. Not that it matters.
Of course all nurses have underlying emotional issues. All people have underlying emotional issues if they're past childhood. This doesn't mean we're all on psychotropic drugs (yet) or escapees from the mental institution.
Many nurses use their past emotional issues to allow themselves to more closely relate to their patients' problems. This is what empathy is.
jenac
258 Posts
No, I don't think all nurses have deep seeded emotional problems. We're just gluttens for punishment.....
If being a caring, compassionate person makes me sick-so be it. I'll file for disability on Monday.