are nurses more depressed than the general public?

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I've been a nurse a few years now and am convinced becoming a nurse was the biggest career mistake I ever could have made. It's a second career for me so at this stage I am resigned to working as a nurse in some capacity until I retire. But, I'm not happy (I've worked several places) and it seems as though many of my co-workers aren't either.

I recently gave in and started taking an anti-depressant (and may also need something for anxiety) and was wondering how common this is among nurses. I've been reading allnurses since nursing school so I realize many posters come here to vent, but as a group, do you think nurses are more depressed than most people? Are you depressed? Do you take meds for it? If so, do you think the reason is directly related to being a nurse?

Just looking for a little feedback to see if most are able to find satisfaction in the work or am I not that unusual.

Thanks,

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

my experience has been different. no, i don't think that nurses are more depressed than anyone else. but i do think that nurses complain more and do nothing about it. i am a strong believer that the choices we make can greatly affect our emotional and physical health. if you think that your nursing career is causing you so much distress i think you should take necessary steps to get out of it. i don't know why nurses think they don't have choices...there are plenty of other careers and other jobs. so what they may pay a little less, what's more important??? your health and sanity or a job that can replace you tomorrow. i have never been depressed about my career choice, but i do know that if it ever came to the point that i had to take meds to cope, then i would do something else.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

So sorry to hear you went through nursing school and hate it! I hated nursing school but I love being a nurse and I love my job! I've been working at the same hospital for over 10yrs now, no anti-depressants for me,.although it does seem that everyone is on Zoloft these days!

Now, before you think my life is all roses and sunshine, well actually it is right now, but it hasn't always been. I had a time where I was taking ambien everyday to sleep and hated my job,..I transfered to ER where we have staff!! It's been almost two years since I've taken an ambien and I no longer have to keep a bottle of TUMS in my pocket! I tell you this only to demonstrate that I hated my job at one time,.not being a nurse! Maybe it's time for you to make a change? Life is too short to hate your job and feel trapped. Find a place that works for you! Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Medsurg.

Hello and what I can share about your question is that "We are always confronted by TWO CHOICES - To WIN or To LOOSE? I prefer to chose the first... to Win". In other words the moment you open your eyes you can decide if this is going to be a Good day or Bad Day. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from being happy. Smile more, give more, love more and you will see a big change in your AURA. My friend you can be anything and anyone but if you chose to be a LOSER then that's what you are. Nursing is a wonderful field where you can always make a difference on someones lives. If your attitude is always Positive and Loving then Depression has no room in your INNERNET!......

RL86

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I do find that I am not as social as before-meaning I was always a loner, but did go out more often alone than now. People basically overwhelm me because from both, the patients (which is much more understandable) and collagues (they are the ones that REALLY drain me) take a great deal of my energy. I am not frightened of them, but can do without them. I find that I have to be 'on' at ALL times...always CYA, cannot trust too many people, because you really get to see many for who they really are. Stay home at more to read, hang out in this forum, try and do girlie things for myself.

I do suffer from anxiety attacks on occasion, and sort of think that I am in that stage again, so, yes, I will be going to get the Zoloft to get that edge off. I would not say that I am depressed, because I still keep up appearences, want to live and have many interests. But, I am on edge more than I would like to be.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

I wonder about that also. Sometimes I would rather be alone, particularly after work and if I have a day or two off, I want to be alone. I find work to be totally draining sometimes especially if my patients have been not doing well throughout the shift and I've not had time to sit and eat or go to the bathroom. The last couple of nights I worked, it has been rather tiresome, both patients were confused and yelling out throughout the night. I'm glad to be off until monday night.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Dialysis.

To answer the question I would say "no", nurses are not more depressed then the general public. But for me I would say "yes", I have been a nurse for a year, 6 months in telemetry and 6 months in psych. I do not care for nursing, I loved nursing school and loved being a nursing assistant but as for being an RN, you can take those letters and shove them somewhere the sun don't shine!

I hate being a nurse and am therefore searching for a position in my old field of medical billing/finance. The past year in nursing has completely changed me, I have become filled with anxiety and depression!! I have suffered multiple panic attacks at work becoming overwhelmed by patients, charge nurses, admissions, families. I feel RN's have too much responsibility, you are accountable for everything, not fair, you couldn't pay me all the money in the world to enjoy this job.

I have come home too many days crying, sad, overwhelmed. My poor husband has to put up with the fact that I come home burnt out and tired everyday, I hate the person I have become!! I am impatient and unfriendly when I am not working, I have no ambitious to do anything, I have gained weight!

But I have started on Paxil and feel better, no longer working as an RN. I am taking some time off and I am on a job search for some difference, I no longer want to pursue patient care. It is sad but I have accepted it and willing to move on. Not every job is cut out for everyone. I am much happier, now that I have accepted this fact.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Clearly, being a nurse isn't for everyone. Sometimes I don't think people take into account how stressful it can be at times. I love my job though. I wouldn't quit being a nurse for any other field.

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Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.
To answer the question I would say "no", nurses are not more depressed then the general public. But for me I would say "yes", I have been a nurse for a year, 6 months in telemetry and 6 months in psych. I do not care for nursing, I loved nursing school and loved being a nursing assistant but as for being an RN, you can take those letters and shove them somewhere the sun don't shine!

I hate being a nurse and am therefore searching for a position in my old field of medical billing/finance. The past year in nursing has completely changed me, I have become filled with anxiety and depression!! I have suffered multiple panic attacks at work becoming overwhelmed by patients, charge nurses, admissions, families. I feel RN's have too much responsibility, you are accountable for everything, not fair, you couldn't pay me all the money in the world to enjoy this job.

I have come home too many days crying, sad, overwhelmed. My poor husband has to put up with the fact that I come home burnt out and tired everyday, I hate the person I have become!! I am impatient and unfriendly when I am not working, I have no ambitious to do anything, I have gained weight!

But I have started on Paxil and feel better, no longer working as an RN. I am taking some time off and I am on a job search for some difference, I no longer want to pursue patient care. It is sad but I have accepted it and willing to move on. Not every job is cut out for everyone. I am much happier, now that I have accepted this fact.

Wow.:up:

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Nursing is really stressful. Stress does exact a price, physically or emotionally. All people in very stressful jobs are at increased risk for mental and physical health problems, depression included.

There are times when I ask myself why I subjected myself to this lifestyle. I want to warn student nurses. "Hey, do you realize that the prize that you get for all the work that you put in during school is to work even harder? The prize for succeeding in nursing school is to be a nurse. Be really sure that is really what you want!"

I thought about taking antidepressants to keep my previous job. I could plaster on a chemical smile and keep going, but I decided that it was better to leave.

OP says that several jobs haven't yielded the right fit, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a nursing position out there that is the job of your dreams. The reasons that you entered the profession are probably all still valid... just the conditions necessary to appreciate them are lacking. It is possible to find fulfillment and even pleasure in work as a nurse, despite the stress and all the human suffering to which we are witness. SSRI's can be a temporary or long-term way to get through the tough parts, but a good counsellor is a great help as well. Remembering to take care of yourself helps, too. Enough rest, healthy food, time off to do the things that make life worth living for you. A monthly massage is not too expensive or too extravagant, and it goes a long way toward healing mental and physical pain. Self-care will probably do more to restore a nurse's well-being than drugs or counselling.

Sometimes self-care means trying again to find a better work situation. It has worked wonders for me.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I can only speak for myself. My job is overwhelming at times, and I worked really hard to get here, and yes, I do enjoy my days off, but no, I am not depressed.

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Specializes in medical.
To answer the question I would say "no", nurses are not more depressed then the general public. But for me I would say "yes", I have been a nurse for a year, 6 months in telemetry and 6 months in psych. I do not care for nursing, I loved nursing school and loved being a nursing assistant but as for being an RN, you can take those letters and shove them somewhere the sun don't shine!

I hate being a nurse and am therefore searching for a position in my old field of medical billing/finance. The past year in nursing has completely changed me, I have become filled with anxiety and depression!! I have suffered multiple panic attacks at work becoming overwhelmed by patients, charge nurses, admissions, families. I feel RN's have too much responsibility, you are accountable for everything, not fair, you couldn't pay me all the money in the world to enjoy this job.

I have come home too many days crying, sad, overwhelmed. My poor husband has to put up with the fact that I come home burnt out and tired everyday, I hate the person I have become!! I am impatient and unfriendly when I am not working, I have no ambitious to do anything, I have gained weight!

But I have started on Paxil and feel better, no longer working as an RN. I am taking some time off and I am on a job search for some difference, I no longer want to pursue patient care. It is sad but I have accepted it and willing to move on. Not every job is cut out for everyone. I am much happier, now that I have accepted this fact.

I hear you! I feel the same way, nurses are responsible for everything!!!! This is insanity itself. I'm at a crossroads to decide what I want in my life. I know that bedside nursing stinks big time, I don't think anybody with respect can put up with that. Nurses don't look good in general and are usually overweight. I think a lot of nurses are depressed. I feel depressed each time I have to go to work, but on my days off I'm so happy.

I'm looking for a change, I refuse to put up with hospital conditions.

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