Nurse = Co Dependent?

[4fill]

I have just completed a home study course for 30 ceu's. The subject was Substance Abuse. Even with multiple decades in Adult ICU several factors have intervened and I am now working in a drug rehab center for L.A. County. (No, I didn't use.)

The first statement was interesting,"It is likely you will become a co-dependent if you work in the health care field". In a later section, the explanation followed. The healthcare worker takes on the role of co-dependent at work because the patient is in a dependent situation, and subject to your control of their world.

In the ICU theater the nurse is definitely in control, but I have never thought of myself as co-dependent!

One of the ways to save one's self is to be able to walk out and leave work there. I may bask for a while with the nice feeling that I did a good job but that doesn't last long. At home our life is give and take and my wife is definitely NOT "barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen".

Are you, or do you work with people, who are co-dependent?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I'd like to ask when the virtue of getting satisfaction from helping others became a character flaw?

[leslie :-D]

if the only way one can feel satisfied, is through the approval of others, that is codependent.

if your self-worth is defined by an internal gratification, codependency does not exist.

speaking for myself, i feel good when i've done something therapeutic for my pt- even if they don't appreciate it at that moment.

leslie

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Many people only feel good through the approval of others, not just helpful people. I can think of some narcissists who crave approval. some people just are more emotionally dependent on other people, period.