sewjsv

Just wondering how long you have been a nurse? I have been an RN for 40 years and the patients and families have definitely gotten worse but there are some things you can do - at least at our place. If a patient threw things at you we are able to call security for an unruly patient - you could also check to see if you could press charges for assault. We have been given a type of self-defense class and a class to try and ease the situation. After you have been in the business awhile and you have been verbally abused by doctors (report them), patients and families you eventually will grow a thicker skin but some days that won't even help... I have had 2 "anxiety attacks" at work and have had a very supportive manager and staff. Luckily one of the "attacks" passed in an hour and the other was after I worked 16 hours of on-call so I got to go home. I did make a shift change once and that definitley helped - I can't adjust to early day shift and was always tired and that didn't help, either. I am 5 years from retiring and can't wait! Nursing is not what it use to be and the frustration with the computers and the other regulatory issues have not helped. I found going to an area like ICU and PACU where you only have 2 patients at the most really helped - you actually get to care for the patients and not be pulled in 50 different directions - but there still are hairy moments - you just have a more controlled environment. Good luck - think about working in a different area - it could help.