Lifestyle of a Nurse

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2016

1. My work life is hardly ever stressful these days because I now work from home. My work life was somewhat stressful when I was a floor nurse due to my introverted personality: I dislike small talk, schmoozing, and the nuances involved with soothing people's anxieties.

2. I am childless and live alone. I visit extended family out of state several times yearly.

3. My work day ends with me being in a great mood. I realize I struck gold by landing a job that entails no direct patient care or disrespect from their families.

4. I have plenty of time to go out.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Aug 13, 2016

These are good questions! I wish I had thought about this more when choosing a career. That said...

1) I'm a newbie in the area of nursing I work in, so it's a little stressful every day. I can see there being moments where this is going to be rough no matter how long I'm there, but I think as you gain experience and learn how to best handle the problems that come up, it really is just another day at work. Having a good team and taking lots of notes during orientation seem to be the best way to counteract stress. If you can survive the first six months to a year, the stress goes down. Before that, it can be pretty challenging.

2) I don't have kids, but I do see my SO (who works a similar shift to me) plenty, and I visit my parents and siblings once a week or so. It takes some coordination and planning, but I haven't had to sacrifice great amounts of time with loved ones for this. It does get a little sticky around the holidays, and getting vacation off at the same time is sometimes a challenge, but usually we make it work. (I have already had to explain that I am not one to be obsessed with working overtime, so it helps to be firm in what you want.)

3) LOL. My post-work mood is just tired. To be honest, it runs all over the place. Sometimes I'm very happy and relaxed, feel good about my work, and love my coworkers to pieces. I finally left work the other day crying, which I've never done in two years of being an RN, so that happened. Most of the time it is not that extreme in either direction; I'm just leaving work. Once I get home, take a shower, and eat, I'm more or less over it.

4) Going out isn't a huge priority for me, but I do get time every week to see friends and enjoy my hobbies. With night shift, I do go through periods where I just feel unwell and end up sleeping more than I would like. I've figured out a sleep schedule that keeps that to a minimum so I can enjoy my days off. Again, it can take just a little planning and willpower, but I've found my offtime to be as good as ever.

contemplations · Aug 13, 2016

1. My work life is hardly ever stressful these days because I now work from home.

Thanks for your insight! I wasn't even aware of work-from-home options for nurses. I'll definitely have to research that more!

NightNerd, thanks for sharing! It's very reassuring to read positive experiences after seeing nursing professions ranked "above average" in stress level on certain websites.

Everline · Aug 13, 2016

As a new nurse my work life was extremely stressful every single shift, to the point that it started seeping into my time outside of work and ruining my "quality of life". Now that I'm into my second year of nursing and have a job that suits me better, my work days are still stressful, but less so. I don't think of work that often when I'm not there and I generally leave work feeling pretty good. There are days that are just slammed and I have a hard time, but overall, it's manageable.

I have time to spend with family and friends and time for my hobbies. But I work in a clinic on day shift and I don't ever work weekends. When I worked nights it was a big issue.

contemplations · Aug 13, 2016

I'm glad things are getting better for you! Thanks for sharing.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Aug 13, 2016

The answers to your questions are entirely subjective and individual. Nursing is a stressful career and it impacts their family differently.

I also now work from home... it is a different level of stress and my family realizes the need for a quiet environment and the fact they cannot even walk into the room when I am working ( HIPAA).

Your family life WILL suffer. You will be working nights weekends, and holidays. They will NOT understand why you will not be available.

Upon returning from a shift, I was emotionally and physically exhausted.

Going out ? :roflmao:

contemplations · Aug 13, 2016

The answers to your questions are entirely subjective and individual.

I specifically mentioned my understanding of the widely differing experiences everyone will have in order to avoid the stating of the obvious, given fact by others; hence, I claimed to be seeking a general idea. :saint:

I am sorry that you may have had a terrible experience, nevertheless, thank you for sharing!

RNperdiem, RN · Aug 13, 2016

Yes, my job is stressful. Most of the time, patients are doing fine, but there is always the sense of responsibility and the uncertainty that things can change for the worse quickly. The stress was more on my first job, but the stress level varies day to day and hour to hour.

I have lots of time for my family because I work per diem, have a high-earning spouse and a flexible schedule. To get to this position required years of full-time work, savings and planning. I didn't get hired into a good per diem job right out of school. I still work my required holidays as well as occasional nights. For most nurses, this is not a typical schedule. Most of my coworkers work full-time, and still manage family responsibilities.

Mainly my mood after work is tired as the primary emotion. The secondary is determined by how my patients did and how the shift went.

I have plenty of time for going out on my days off. After work? No. A 12 hour shift is more like a 14 hour door-to-door time when you factor in getting there early, leaving a little late, getting to your car(university campus) and the commute home.

Animal House R.N., ADN, CNA, LVN · Aug 13, 2016

The amount of stress changes from job to job. I've worked LTC off and on for almost 20 years. It is stressful. I have also worked as rural hospitals. Occasionally stressful. The first year is always stressful, because you are learning the difference between the classroom and the real world. And yes there is a very big difference.

2. How much time with your family differs between if you work days or nights, 8 or 12s. I work 12 hours night shift. I see my kids for maybe 2 hours before I go to work. But the rest of the week I'm with them. You also have to plan on meetings at work and comp fairs.

3. Since I'm working at the hospital right now, I'm in a good mood when I get off.

4. Go out on the day I worked yeah right. The rest of the time is spent with my zoo. :roflmao:

ontnursec · Aug 13, 2016

1. I work in home health. I'd say I experience stress daily but it's manageable and I am equipped to solve the issues I come across or ask for help

2. I would say my work and family are balanced. I work 5 days a week 8-4pm. I have time with my kids.

3. I return home usually anxious to eat :) not in a bad mood usually

4. I definitely have time to go out. Whether it be after work or on my days off

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 13, 2016

How often would you consider your work life to be stressful? How stressful?

Varies from day to day. Some days, my surgical cases go smoothly and I leave on time. Some days things go so smoothly I get to leave a little early. Other days, the brown stuff hits the fan, patients are trying to die on the table, traumas and emergencies come in when we don't have open ORs, things like that. Being an OR nurse, I also cover a lot of call. My longest shift was over 24 hours, and thank goodness the surgeon who was up all night cancelled all of his cases so the staff could go home and sleep (he didn't, he still rounded and saw patients in the office... crazy!).
Do you believe you have a healthy family life? I'm a family-oriented person and wouldn't to completely sacrifice that for my job. How much time do you have with your family?

My family primarily consists of those with four legs and tails. They don't care when I get home or if I change plans. On the other hand, I did have to miss Easter dinner this year. It's part of any nursing job and even many jobs outside of nursing. Same with other holidays.
What mood do you return home in most often?

Caffeine deprived. But usually just... normal.
Do you feel like you have time for going out?

I party pretty much every weekend I'm not on call. Sometimes I even party on weeknights, just not as late.