Doc Lori, R.N.

Thank you so much everyone, and congratulations to all the winners!

I watched a bit on the news yesterday and this guy was literally tweeting while having an MI, how he felt with the morphine, then being prepped for his CABG. He even video recorded himself while he was twittering. Wow.

I'd bet that it's a combination of physical and emotional exhaustion, giving, providing, caring and nurturing others...toxicity and burnout... Hang in there and focus on what led you to the desire to heal others..sometimes that helps in order to regain focus. Best wishes!

I seriously laughed out loud as I re-read this craziness! Just a bunch of passionate individuals expressing view points, and what the hell is wrong with that? :)

PCU, nursing is beyond hard work, and nurses are energetically authentic, meaning there are certain attributes which lead one to become a healer, just as there are certain attributes which lead one to be an air traffic controller, an author, an accountant. Often, in my experience with my clients in my counseling practice ( all of my clients are nurses), nurses on some level seek their own healing by way of healing others. This is as a result of childhood issues, past life issues (if one resonates with such a concept), or both. Who knows what your preceptor is experiencing internally, personally, etc. However, my opinion is that her inability or lack of desire to address her issues is not your job! New grads deserve the best start. I hope you were able to find the validation of your own truths through that experience! Best wishes on your career, PCU!

You seek counseling. You "nurse your spirit"!

Morte, Believe me, I totally and completely understand. It is only after many years of therapy, then forming my own counseling practice for nurses when I boiled it down and realized that on a visceral level, there is the scent of primal fear. Bottom line, mean people suck and there is no excuse for it..and we can choose to accept their energies into our space..or not :)

Thanks,j621d. I learned this through personal experience!

I think that some nurses have the propensity for burn out, and some don't, no matter where they work. The more work and research I do on this subject, the more I realize that. Someone with a solid sense of who they are, complete with a reasonably good sense of self worth and boundaries typically will not get *terribly* burned out, whereas the opposite can occur if those attributes are not present. Best wishes!

You are right..no one insinuated that the OP was stupid. She expressed herself that she would try not to ask any more stupid questions, (paraphrased). I should have clarified that. You bet your sweet bippy I speak of limits..and boundaries. You are employing yours, I am employing mine. It just seems as though there are ways to communicate with more positive results, instead of an OP apologizing and suggesting that her question was stupid.

Yeah, I am snarky and smart orificed too, and intelligent, and a counselor for a practice which is dedicated to nurses who experience the toxities of burnout. I am passionate about people supporting each other. Kindness along with a gentle and compassionate spirit go a helluva long way, even if you are telling someone that their breath and pits stink. I felt for the OP, I really did - I really do. Kids, yeah..I have 3. And two grandchildren, so I get it. I know how they roll. Easily duped..really? Let's just agree to disagree.

Oh Yay! It's button pushing time! Woohoo! Thanks for your opinion Jopacurn..however no one will be receiving an apology from me regarding this post. Not you, not anyone. You seem to be personally attacking me, yet I was not personally attacking you. I was blown away by the general tone of the responses, is all, and I thought I'd share my thoughts and show support to the OP. Seems like the shoe I threw out fit you the best? Perhaps it is appropriate for you to challenge your daughter, perhaps it is appropriate for her teacher to challenge your daughter. Perhaps the OP lacked confidence, and it is obvious that she is being gracious to all of the posters. Also, jopacurn, Who is us? What do you mean, don't judge "us"? This is not a them against me situation. I am not judging anyone, I am sharing my view of reactions to a circumstance. Also, it is clear that you highly regard education, and are quite educated yourself. That's fantastic! Yet, having said this, what do Kierkegaard or Keynesian Economics have to do with the price of eggs in New Jersey, and why are you "in" with it? Why was that important? Truth is, it doesn't matter. As long as the OP knows that no questions are stupid :)

She said please...jeez! Aren't there more polite, professional and respectful ways to address colleagues? Who says that the people who chose to respond to this post are meant to teach the OP a lesson? Seriously, with the eating their young! What purpose does your arrogance serve, other than to stroke your own egos? Where is the compassion? Have you all been shamed and spoken to as children in an adult learning situation, feeling the need to lash out at someone? Feeling the need to show them a thing or two? For what it's worth, my opinion is that this site is perfectly representative of personal, therefore professional burnout and toxicity. This is my brain :redpinkhe, and This is my brain when I realize that someone is being unsupportive and judgemental for the sake of enhancing the circumference of their puffed out chests For what it's worth.

Thx for that. I think it's rather interesting how this article is spinning! Wheee!

The whole thing is, everyone is on their own valid paths, whether or not their current vantage point at any particular point in time is good, bad or ugly..however it is up to us as individuals as to what we choose to allow to enter our realities. That's where self love and healthy boundaries come into play. We cannot control how others perceive, and therefore react to their surroundings, be it bitterness, rudeness or "eating their young", yet we can control how we will allow others to affect our realities..and in doing so, we are positively and energetically contagious :)

Has he had a nephrology consult? This guy is screaming renal failure. While that does not address all of his issues, dialysis will definitely adjust many of his labs as well as his temperature, by increasing the temperature of the dialysate solution. He seems to be in complete metabolic crisis!

True. And a spade is a spade, or is it a suit in a deck of cards? Depends on perspective, oui?

Me too! That's hilarious! :)

Hi everyone! I am torn about the posted responses to this article. On one hand I am thrilled that this piece has stimulated such discussion. On the other hand, I feel somewhat saddened that it seems to have divided us. Because of this, I am going to clarify my rationales for writing this to begin with. The goal was to share a common theme with you, nurses, my peers- regarding the psyche of some healers. It was my hope from a personal place of sincere compassion that this would be a useful tool of self examination for any readers with whom this topic may resonate. The core philosophy of my practice, which is devoted to the health, wellness and balance of the nurse is not being advertised or exploited on this site. I simply find joy in the hopes of providing even one soul with an eye twinkle of understanding. In my experience, not all, but many nurses who seek my professional guidance because of burnout uncover that they were energetically led to a healing profession because of a dysfunctional upbringing. Broken down further, this usually accompanies such issues as poor self esteem, and even further examined, this attributed to the need to obtain sense of self esteem extrinsically, from outside of themselves. Controlling another nurse, or a nurse eating their young is not a defining issue in and of itself. It is a side effect of having a poor sense of self worth and healthy boundaries. It is just one spoke on the toxic wheel of nurse Burn out. This article was shared in the hopes of raising awareness about the authenticities of nurses as individuals. My favorite DON used to say this often during a staff meeting. "If the shoe fits, wear it". It was obvious after those meetings that some of the rattling going on was because some didn't realize that the shoe fit and some didn't know that they were shopping for shoes to begin with! Let the defensiveness and backlash begin! If you read something and it moves you to react acerbically, perhaps there is a glimmer of innate identification. I am not poorly judging nurses who "eat their young". I am absolutely indicating however that if this concept does resonate with you, and you react to it, that there will be some inner reflection, growth and illumination for your sake. I wish you all peace, I wish you all self love, happy healthy boundaries, and Joy.

The Flatliners? The Balloon Pumpers? The A-Line Aviators? ahaa good luck!

Sounds like Doctor Personality has a personal issue, which you do not have to buy into. You are advocating for your patient, and doing your job, within your scope of practice. He knows damned well what your scope of practice is, and that you were well within your means to question. I agree with Doza, document your clarification call. Any nurse worth a grain of salt would have done what you did. Kudos to you!

I'd notify the MD :)

Personally, I feel that the only time it plays into the care of the patient is when care has to be coordinated between facilities, etc. One needs to know from a case management point how to "direct" that patient's referrals in terms of what is "covered". From a bed side nurse's perspective in a hospital care setting, it matters none. Patients are demanding and at their worst when they are sick, and that's when we see them, whether they (or their employers) pay for a top shelf plan, or are on state assistance. My opinion is.. the opinion and pre conceived notions and mind sets of the nurse is to be at question, and is the ultimate issue, not the innapropriate behavior of the patient. In other words, it is how we choose to perceive it.

Thank you, nursel56. Yes, counseling specific to nurses is rare for sure, and it really seems to resonate! I hope you continue to be open and whole :) Best wishes!

I think they are referring to post surgical or post CVA/TBI injuries. I'd imagine that if it were drug rehab they'd be more specific, as another poster indicates? Good luck!! :)