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?
Samantha2000 -I can relate to your feelings... In my very last semester of nursing school, I was striving for good grades, trying to make the most of every clinical experience, busting my tail on papers/projects, AND I was the president of our Nursing Student Council... (planning meetings/fundraisers/parties).
Whew! It was SO stressful! I tried to take long hot baths at the end of my day... take brisk walks... TRY to eat fairly healthy... it just all caught up with me. I got to a point where I would never sleep a whole night through and would constantly have headaches.
I finally went to talk to my doctor (who I've seen for many, many years) and cried my eyes out! He first suggested all that I've tried, then decided it was best for me to try an anti-depressant... I was like "WHAT? An anti-depressant??? But I'm NOT depressed! Little did I know it also works for anxiety... So I took it, for less than two months... (oh, and I was terrifed at the time someone would find out and judge me- but I kept if very, very confidential and not a soul knew about it- other than mom ) And whether it was the thought of taking something that was supposed to "fix" me (placebo effect???) or it actually worked, I don't know... What I do know is that I survived nursing school AND graduated at the top of my class!
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?
Samantha,
You hang in there. You will be ok. I don't know what will benefit you -- a little love and encouragement :icon_hug: -- exercise --some cognitive behavioral therapy (my personal fav!) -- or a need for medication. You will have to decide. Just like Leslie said, nursing school tests you like nothing else. Hang in there and take care of yourself.
p.s. it would be unfortunate to turn her thread into a pro or con psych med thread.
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.
I couldn't agree more!!! Nursing school is stressful, NURSING is stressful!! How about getting some therapy to learn to deal with this stress(in your chosen career) and decide if nursing is really for you.This is a problem with a specific situation not a chronic depression. I for one would not alter my brain chemistry to get through nursing school. To make an ssri your first step in dealing with stress is incomprehensible to me. These are not magical drugs. They have side effects and adverse effects that is some cases are worse than the original problem.
I couldn't agree more!!! Nursing school is stressful, NURSING is stressful!! How about getting some therapy to learn to deal with this stress(in your chosen career) and decide if nursing is really for you.This is a problem with a specific situation not a chronic depression. I for one would not alter my brain chemistry to get through nursing school. To make an ssri your first step in dealing with stress is incomprehensible to me. These are not magical drugs. They have side effects and adverse effects that is some cases are worse than the original problem.
Find a good therapist!
:uhoh21: Samantha- Please know that I am in NO way trying to sway you one way or the other... I just thought it might be of some support to know that others have gone through similar trying times... and it just so happens what worked for me may not at all be what will work for anyone else!
I COMPLETELY agree with trying ALL non medicinal routes FIRST!!!
Just remember- you WILL get through this! Hang in there!!!!
...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.
samantha,
i'm sorry to say that you will never really go a day without taking your work home with you, in saying this however, the way in which you will take it home/to heart will change.
is what's keeping you up @ night:
* the fact that you (as an individual) made a mistake (that you percieve you should have known the answer/solution/how to do etc to)
or is it
* the fact that you see a patients decline as an error on your part?
samantha, we have all been there. a lot of skills come with experience/exposure and time (although me saying this will not help you feel any better) - and you cannot expect to have them all yet (even though we all want to wake up matrix-style with the info and dexderity already loaded )
i can tell that you are a great nurse because you care enough to evaluate your own practice but you have to gain some realism that there are somethings that are in your control, somthings are not and that there are somethings that will come with time.
speak to your preceptor/educator/course or year level co-ord about your fears and anxieties etc. they are the best judge about what goals you have that are realistic, those that will take time and those expectations on yourself that may not be so realistic.
my educator told me in 2nd year that, in her belief, it takes 5 years to make a nurse (not just the few it takes @ uni).
most of all have fun, learn and remember that the learning will never end (but the stress of assignments does - thank god!!:w00t: )
Hey, I feel your pain. Nursing school was tough, and I "hit the wall" 2nd year and had to go on an SSRI. But, I made it through with a 3.8 gpa and shut off the nclex in 100 questions. Now I know it was worth it. But don't think that feeling ever totally goes away.... It's a good thing that you recognize you have much to learn... Expect to make mistakes, and don't repeat them. Learn from other's mistakes, and always know that our profession has very high standards. Your clinicals are the infinitesimal beginnings of nursing... Once you graduate, youll have a preceptor up your butt all the time instead of an instructor. then, even when your on your own as an RN, you'll still have to answer to Jcaho and the Board of Nursing. So, your best bet is to approach this as a lifelong commitment... The RN must meet the standard of care for their patients. So, to quote Benner, et. al, competency is a process of knowing what you know, and knowing what you don't know, and taking steps to develop from novice to expert. You don't get 5 yrs RN experience in 1 year. 5 years experience takes 5 years.
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.
Truel, but with a statement like "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." it's understandable and reasonable to suggest geting professional and medical/pharm. assistance. If I couldn't sleep for days and weeks, I'd be begging an MD for a sleeping pill.
Better living through chemistry? I don't even know where to begin with that one.
Hi,
I would like to share that from what I read of the poster suggesting this she was clearly talking about diagnostic treatment and not willy nilly enhancement.
I agree with her. If someone is clearly clinically depressed or whatnot than yes, offer the option of treatment.
The odds of this one time depression remaining a one time depression are greater with treatment right? Isnt' the stat something like 80% of depression if treated soon enough will not return but, if not treated may definately return and become chronic.
I hope to never tell a clincally depressed person to just tough it out.
The line between treatment and enhancement is a tough call, that is why there are psychologists!
To the OP, all the best! Our first day, our pharm professor said, "statistically there will be two of you who will become clincally depressed in the program, there will be a divorce...." Well, she was right! I happen to be the "divorce" and I know another classmate who is on SSRIs and another on something else for depression, (thankfully for her!)
As a non-depressed person it is not horrendously difficult for me to suffer through some tough times. I couldnt' imagine otherwise and am thankful for it too!
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.
So a newly-diagnosed diabetic whose glucose is out of control isn't being dehumanized when medication is prescribed, but it's dehumanizing to prescribe psych meds for someone in emotional trouble?
I find it uniquely American that we are such judgmental Puritans that any method other than meds much be sought first for emotional pain. Sometimes pain doesn't teach us anything. Sometimes it just paralyzes and hurts.
I was getting out of bed and going to work every single day during the worst of my depression. I'd get up in the morning and get in the shower and sigh, "I'm an organism. And now I'm going to groom this cell colony to attract a walking set of male nucleotides to hope they'll want to replicate with mine. What a joke." And I steadily wept throughout the day while doing my job.
I do NOT believe in throwing Ritalin at every little boy who can't sit still, or at throwing psych meds at every emotional problem that presents. But someone who can't let go and whose fellow students, all of whom are in the same situation and at the same stress level, are telling to calm down and stop reacting so, is in need of pharmaceutical attention and assistance, even if it's just an Ambien so she can get a night's sleep before heading off to face clinicals again.
It sounds like you are being too, too hard on yourself. Noone is perfect and nursing can be very stressful, especially when first starting out. While in the midst of everything just remember to breathe. Your shift will get done and after each experience you have is another experience under your belt.
You have to allow God to take over your life. Once you able to put God first in your life, everything else will fall in place. He is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the End. God Bless You. Prayer will help u.
)
colleen
Krista77
29 Posts
Samantha2000 -I can relate to your feelings... In my very last semester of nursing school, I was striving for good grades, trying to make the most of every clinical experience, busting my tail on papers/projects, AND I was the president of our Nursing Student Council... (planning meetings/fundraisers/parties).
Whew! It was SO stressful! I tried to take long hot baths at the end of my day... take brisk walks... TRY to eat fairly healthy... it just all caught up with me. I got to a point where I would never sleep a whole night through and would constantly have headaches.
I finally went to talk to my doctor (who I've seen for many, many years) and cried my eyes out! He first suggested all that I've tried, then decided it was best for me to try an anti-depressant... I was like "WHAT? An anti-depressant??? But I'm NOT depressed! Little did I know it also works for anxiety... So I took it, for less than two months... (oh, and I was terrifed at the time someone would find out and judge me- but I kept if very, very confidential and not a soul knew about it- other than mom
) And whether it was the thought of taking something that was supposed to "fix" me (placebo effect???) or it actually worked, I don't know... What I do know is that I survived nursing school AND graduated at the top of my class!
So- try the relaxation, eating right, exercise, meditation, seeing friends, etc, etc FIRST...
Then see your doctor. Good luck- and hang in there!!!!! :icon_hug: