chadash

Yes, cover your patient quickly next time, but you sound like you have a poopy partner.

oops! clicked twice!

Yeh, my husband will hand me my purse and ask "is the checkbook in there (the forbidden zone)....

It is just plain not polite to put your hand in someones pocket. I can't imagine why she did that.

Actually been thinking about that! I did that before, and losing so many patients (many of mine were hospice, and lived long enough that I got really attached) was so sad, I decided to try the hospital for a while. I might be ready to go back.

OOOps! I thought I was starting a new thread, I guess I forgot how. Memory loss is a bummer.

I have been a nursing assistant for many years, and wonder if I should go on to something else entirely. I have always gotten great reviews, but this time around it was so so....I had surgery, family issues (sick grand babies and grand parents, two parents died) and I am depressed. Cut back alot on hours because of this and now I am not too appreciated at work. They are tired of my tough year, I am sure. Some one I know at another hospital offered me a job earlier this year, and I declined due to loyalty. I can work like a trooper usually, but I am just worn out. Mid life is a mess :) Feeling a bit bad about myself. People approach me at work and say " are you over your problems yet?" This person reported me to HR because I got a job helping a supervisor, and now that is gone. Got an opportunity in an area of interest, and one of the professionals bullied me, and normally I would buck up and work though it, this time I just thought "o well, move on, just not worth it." Should I get a retail job, and skip all this? I am so sad. I love patient care, but I am tired. Sorry,

Depression and Nursing By MedHunters Staff A review of nursing discussion groups indicates that depression within the nursing community is a major problem. Every year, approximately 18.8 million Americans and three million Canadians suffer from clinical depression. Females have higher rates of depression than males by a ratio of 2:1. During their lifetime, about five to 12% of men and 10% to 25% of women will suffer from major depressive episode at least once. But do nurses have special circumstances that contribute to depression? While there is a wealth of anecdotal information, no definitive study has looked at all of the factors. Here is the run-down on a few studies that uncover some of the possibilities. You can draw your own conclusions. The Stress Connection According to a study that used the Maslach Burnout Inventory Tool, nurses consistently scored higher on burnout than any other group of healthcare professionals. Burnout is indeed an official term - it is defined as a psychological state of physical and emotional exhaustion, which is thought to be a stress reaction to a reduced ability to meet the demands of one's occupation. For many, the line between being burned out and being clinically depressed is a fine one. Martin et al studied French healthcare workers and found that while many were burned out and exhausted, it was when these factors combined with conflict at work and a high level of job dissatisfaction that they were more likely to become depressed. On the subject of dissatisfaction, a study by the American Nurses Association found that 30% of nurses feel powerless to improve patient safety and care, and a whopping 40% report job dissatisfaction. Major life events, such as divorce, death, and changing work conditions are stressful for anyone. Aside from the chance that nurses may be experiencing these events on a personal level, they are likely to experience them vicariously through their patients on a daily basis. Round-the-clock Care Giving, Exhaustion, and Depression Nurses often complain of sleep deprivation, and recent studies indicate that lack of sleep can result in heightened levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the blood. A study by Dr. Patricia Carter of the University of Texas Austin, School of Nursing and Betty Chang at UCLA School of Nursing measured sleep quality and depression indices in caregivers of terminally ill people and found that lack of sleep resulted in a higher incidence of depression. Peri-menopause and Depression Statistics show that the average age of a nurse is 45 years old in the US and 44 years old in Canada. Many of the female nurses are in the peri-menopause age range, which may contribute to higher rates of depression. While the precise link between depression and fluctuations in hormones is unknown, there is ample anecdotal evidence that these fluctuations contribute to feeling sad. A study by Harvard University on moods and cycles found that women who undergo menopause before age 48 are twice as likely to self-report a history of depression. The researchers hypothesized that stress and depression may in fact influence endocrine function and lead to early ovarian failure. This early exposure to peri-menopause can result in a longer period of transition to menopause and longer bouts of depression as the woman's hormones undulate. Depression Awareness This theory is a simple but logical one: nurses, because of their training, are much more likely to be aware of the symptoms to watch for when it comes to their mental and physical health. As a result, perhaps nurses (as a group) are better able to recognize the signs of depression in themselves, report those symptoms, and seek treatment. Is it Because of a Nurse's Personality? Some researchers believe that temperament may be more important than environmental factors in predicting who might become depressed. A psychological study by Japanese researchers found that people who score high in novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence are more prone to depression. People who score high in reward dependence are those who like to help others, are sympathetic, and are sensitive to social cues - certainly, nurses share these characteristics. Could nurses' innate personality predispose them to depression? Let us know what you think

Sorry, wanted to edit, but had to post again. I guess I can be honest since you all don't know me. I am so depressed, and just have been having a rough time with that. I could cry at work, and sometimes do. Usually pretty cheerful, but for a few months have been so lost feeling. So, I must apologize for my rants and vents. A lot of people in my life depend on me, and I really need to pull it together. I find your posts encouraging...so come here looking for that.

Sorry, just needed to vent....and allnurses is the only place to do that... don't want to burden the people around me, so you all get it. So, disregard!:wink2:

I have had a boat load of hospice patients. Sometime, later down the road, you wil cry.

Nah, just go straight to the nearest mental hospital and commit yourself....Just kidding~ Work hard at your nursing degree, and be aware of the struggles of nursing assistants (be their best advocates) but do not be a nursing assistant if you can avoid it!

Well, finally, I am not putting a price on the last commodity I have. When it all comes down, of course, we are more than the price someone pays for our efforts. God is the only measure of that. But in the world we live in, at 12 dollar an hour, or whatever, by gosh, by golly, we have our dignity, don't we? by age old age, or middle, wouldnt you think, folks would quit slapping your hands? (literally, slapping our hands) So, girls and guys, the time has come. Stand. Be brave, and say, I will give all I can, but not my self respect.

But I've got to be honest with you: you will get your pride scuffed up a bit if you work as a nursing assistant. Your BF's viewpoint is common, and even your coworkers will assume you are a bit, well, deprived educationally. But, it builds character! ( and pays the bills...)

Originally, I started because I was headed for nursing school, but when my husband saw how much it was going to cost, he said, no way. So then, I stayed on to be the best NA I could be.