Melting down at Work

Nurses Stress 101

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Hi Everyone! I've enjoyed reading these forums and now I have a question

Due to the usual nursing stressors, I find I'm having more frequent little " meltdowns" at work. I try to go off and be alone but, invariably, some nosy Parker shows up and sees me " like that".

I know I need a break, preferably a year but A) cannot afford it $, and B) hubby not supportive to say the least

I work at a VERY NONSENSICAL place. At least 33% if the nurses have apps in elsewhere

Myself, I have put in an app at the VA , but only 2 weeks ago and I know that we are talking sometime later this Year, if they hired me at all, that I would be able to leave my current job.

A work friend says I am so stressed and fragile that , were it her, she'd take a temporary position elsewhere while " waiting for the VA to come through" ( if it does)

Should I do this? For my mental health? I've been at my place for 12 years , almost vested ( in 2 months, they didn't count my first 5.5 years bc I was PRN), but 4 years ago a new Regime came in and it's been Hades ever since. I thought I could wait out the " new " DON's retirement which is early 2017, but I fear a stroke before then.

Thanks for reading this. ������

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Could you put in a vacation request for a week? Sometimes, taking a little break makes it a little more tolerable afterwards. Once upon a time (before I wiped out my paid time off account) I would schedule myself a 3 or 4 day weekend every month, and treat myself to a spa day. It's amazing how a little "me time" can just make everything seem better.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Maybe a visit to your PCP is in order,that much stress is not good.Your brain chemistry gets out of whack.I am a big believer in anti depressants,you sound like you have a situational depression.

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Thanks so much for the responses so far!!!

I have PTO coming up in a week; will be gone total of 9 days. Was planned long ago but obviously, much needed now.

If I feel the same after I return, I guess I'll have to stay til April 1 ( magic day after which I - finally - am vested), then am freer to explore other emoloyment. Maybe I'll have been called at least for an initial VA int by then?

What scares me is, twice in the past few months I have been on the literal verge of quitting! I mean the words were on my tongue ready at any further provocation to come not so merrily- tripping out! BEFORE vesting . Coworkers have told me to come to them first, before I do any such thing when I'm so close to vest after so long put in there! I've even had someone threaten ( half jokingly) to " beat my b$tt" if I left like this.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Breathe....being vested will be a big deal later in your life. Those benefits WILL come in handy....trust me!!

Take in day at a time. Do what you can do....then let it go. Breathe!

Kep looking...but try very hard to not let them see you sweat.

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How old are you? I had something similar happen a little over a year ago. Menopause and SAD related. My coping and tolerance was out the window for a few months. Hint, no one else at work was as labile as me.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
How old are you? I had something similar happen a little over a year ago. menopause and SAD related. My coping and tolerance was out the window for a few months. Hint, no one else at work was as labile as me.
I second that- both menopause and depression can make you feel like you just can't cope!Get thee to thy PCP,ASAP.
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LOL. I only wish

it was menopause. Nope; 53 and as regular as ever. ( to my utter displeasure).

As for the antidepressants, I was put on Duloxetine some time ago but it is for PMDD

to be fair, the timing if the latest meltdown, last week, coincided exactly with arrival of the curse

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My family all pressures me to keep working FT not PT as I did for so long. . They say if I go back PT we will " be broke" again. Of course what they are really concerned about is : loss of expensive smart phones, ATT service, Starbucks $, and sll sort of goodies teenagers love. Oh yes,

I have 5 at home; 4 teens and one girl 12, but soon to turn 13. Another reason I am !

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It doesn't sound like the job is the primary problem.

Perimenoapuse is actually an ass kicker. I used to have PMDD, took BCP for it, AD's didn't help the hormonal swings I was experiencing.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

You know what you need to do-every one of your children can earn their own spending money. This is a great teachable moment for your family, take advantage of it.Kids are egocentric-they have to be taught to consider other's feelings. And look up some recipes for coffee drinks-you can make your won for a fraction of that price.

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I get only black coffee at SB. It's the teens that get the fancy drinks. Grrrr. Yes, you are right. I've started (!) to make them pay with earned $. This is a newer thing. And the oldest 3 now have jobs, 2 if them regular jobs, so it's something.

I am grateful I found this site and this forum. I know that regardless, April will arrive and that's one more option eased for me ! Plus the VA might call before then. Meantime, I'm looking online every day; what's a good, temporary job I could try/ do , if I have to bail at my present place? I've been looking at the local hospice ( many jobs listed; wondering why?!), and of course, agencies . No hospital work anymore! For the VA, I put areas psych, LTC., and clinics. The Psy area is the only one in the actual VA hosp proper. I am done with M/S, long ago. My current job is an Intermediate Care residential facility in northern/ central FL. ;:)

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

You could probably go pool at a few places,maybe with an agency,work less hours and make more then you are now.As for hospice-high burn out due to the work itself and the never ending push for the nurses to get more done in less time,take more call time,drive greater distances,do admits practically 24 hours a day to keep the census up.Nursing is ROUGH everywhere.

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