Nursing is taking over my life!!!!

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2006

I think you need to talk to your doctor about an anti-anxiety or depressant med.

JMHO, but I will never be off an SSRI again. Bury me with a vial in my cold, clenched fist!

nurse_clown · Mar 12, 2006

hi everyone. i really need some advice from anyone that can help. i am a second year nursing student with clinical on a very very busy and stressful med surge floor. i try my best and work very hard to provide the best possible care but i am not perfect and sometimes i mess up. my problem is that whenever the smallest thing goes wrong, i cant get over it. i literally obsess abut it and can't sleep for days, sometimes weeks after. i usually go home crying and fell very upset with myself. this is beginning to be a big problem for me and is affecting my life very negatively. other nursing students tell me that i am too sensitive and should not take things so seriously. i have also been told that it is a good thing that i get upset because it shows that i care about the patients.
my question is how can i stop letting things that go wrong at clinical upset me so much? in other words, how can i not take work home with me?

[color=gray]i would just try and calm down. take hot showers when you get home. go for walks outside. make sure you eat properly so you have the energy to burn. maybe look up something new half hour before you leave for work. make an honest effort to put work "behind" you once you leave the building.

do you think you are too sensitive? if you think you are taking work home with you then don't do it. try and think hard about it. for instance, you are driving home from work/clinical (all the same to me) and you are thinking about what you could have done differently: stop it! think about a friend you have lost touch with and make an effort to call them. when you are not at work and you start thinking about it, remind yourself to stop thinking about that place and think about something else. i have to do that constantly. but recently, i've been talking more to my friends, doing stuff more with the kids, making my place look better....

it's hard at first. you want things to be alright and perfect at work. so you keep thinking about it. but yes there is life outside of work! it also takes a little effort to enjoy life outside of work too. just try it.

Rio, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2006

Other nursing students tell me that I am too sensitive and should not take things so seriously. I have also been told that it is a good thing that I get upset because it shows that I care about the patients.
My question is how can I stop letting things that go wrong at clinical upset me so much? In other words, how can I not take work home with me?

There is nothing wrong with holding on too tight, but eventualy you will let go. Having the experience to know when to let go will come with time and experience. AKA wisdom.

What I do and what works for me is to research the problem as briefly as possible yet with enough understanding as to be confident you'll recognize and act accordingly next time. Then move on. We all make mistakes , we all encounter something that we don't understand the first, even second time around.

good luck

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2006

My life revolved around nursing school, there wasn't anyway around it. There was always home to do, reading to do, careplans, etc.

I did make sure that I went jogging every other day. Back then I had a walkman and would listen to inspirational music.

Make a commitment to something else in life beside nursing school, such as church, family time, time with friends (I would go out every Friday after work and have coffee with friends), and most of all exercise.

Obessing and not sleeping for days and weeks after is not functional and healthy, but I think you realize that. Be gentle with yourself, realize you're not going to be 100% perfect. Nursing school is very hard on the ego because the instructors are watching and constantly telling you what you do wrong. It takes very thick skin.

Good luck.

lsyorke, RN · Mar 13, 2006

I think you need to talk to your doctor about an anti-anxiety or depressant med.

A bit drastic isn't it?? It's very normal to be overly involved when you are learning and experiencing things for the first time. As you move further into the nursing program you will gain more confidence and knowledge which will help you leave the job at the hospital. Nothing wrong with feeling overwhelmed at this point.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2006

A bit drastic isn't it??

At the point at which I can't find a way to stop obsessing, no, it isn't drastic.

I'm in nursing school as well. We're all overwhelmed and stressed. It's like the law for nursing students. We are *not* unable to let go of the sadness. That requires some help, and at least a talk with the doctor about it is in order.

I couldn't survive nursing school were I not on Lexapro. I'm not being critical of this poster at all, and I feel for her more than I can express because I understand what she's saying, but I am a firm believer in better living through chemistry.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2006

I'm not being critical of this poster at all, and I feel for her more than I can express because I understand what she's saying, but I am a firm believer in better living through chemistry.

Better living through chemistry? I don't even know where to begin with that one. :uhoh3:

leslie :-D · Mar 13, 2006

nsg school can and does bring out sev'l intrusive anxieties and can also predispose many to depression. i will forever look back at my nsg school yrs and appreciate that i completed it in one piece. not only are you always under a magnifying glass but it is so easy to barage yourself with criticism and self doubt. going to your doctor, or a psychiatrist and getting a script for an ssri is more than reasonable. they have the agents to remove depression and anxiety. my goodness, it's not like you're hooked on benzos or any other controlled substance. for those students that profoundly struggle with the challenges of nsg school, cutting them some slack and showing a little support wouldn't be a horrible thing you know.

leslie

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2006

I don't doubt that psych meds are necessary and helpful for some. Obviously they can be a lifesaver for some. I just hate it when I see it suggested as the first course of action for situational stress. What about talking the issue through with a good friend or therapist if it is persistent? What about believing in yourself and learning and growing and pulling through a stronger person? Note, I am not talking about applying this to someone with depression so bad they can't get out of bed. I am talking about mustering up some courage and personal strength and surprising yourself with what you can accomplish. What about daily exercise? That can burn off stress and all those endorphins can be quite calming. The sense of mastery with physical strength can build confidence. Obviously no one should suffer needlessly if the mental woes are persistent and interfering with life. To each his/her own when deciding at what point to try psych meds.

It is actually dehumanizing and uniquely American, IMHO to suggest psych meds right off the bat when someone has a new challenge like nursing school and is under stress. Life is painful and stressful. Life and its pain is not by definition a state of psych med deficiency like we seem to be indoctrinated to believe in the US.

sabrn2006 · Mar 13, 2006

I, too, am in NSG school and will graduate in May. At times, I feel overwhelmed with anxiety too, and I am a very strong student both academically and clinically. It helps to talk with others about your feelings, especially others who can relate. I don't necessarily think you are being overly sensitive. But I do believe that whatever issues we have come to the forefront during stressful times. And this is one of the most stressful things I can recall in my lifetime--LOL.

A very unscientific poll of my 59 member NSG class revealed that ~50% are on an antidepressant. I am not taking one myself but did for a short period 4 years ago. I am able to cope, for the most part. If I wasn't, though, I would go in that direction again.

I also do agree that other interests help us to stay balanced. Exercise is wonderful!!

leslie :-D · Mar 13, 2006

perhaps i misread her post but was under the impression that this stress has been going on since she started nsg school, and she is now in her 2nd year. the thing about nsg school is anxiety levels tend to escalate right up until you receive the news in the mail that you have passed your nclex. it just doesn't go away. i am definitely a big proponent of exercise as it never fails to work like a charm. but nsg school isn't your every day situational depression. it's a nightmare for many and has damaged many a student's psyche until they either quit or flunked. i lost 2/3 of my class. i just don't think the nsg school experience should be underestimated. some are stronger than others but it's important to be compassionate and empathetic to those who need a little more encouragment. if her anxiety has lasted for at least a yr., it's time for some more tried and true interventions. ssri's are such an example and they don't have to be taken on a permanent basis.

leslie