Psyching yourself up to go to work..

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in CV Surgery Step-down.

So, what do YOU do to psych yourself up to actually set foot in the hospital for your shift? I've been orienting on the floor for a few weeks, and although things are going well, I find myself getting worked up the night before a shift and talking to myself in the car on the way to work!

I talk to myself and try to mentally plan out my day! From the moment I step out of my car to the moment I get to my floor, I alternate two prayers (saying them out loud under my breath!). It's kind of like a calming mantra.

Anyone else have any little routines they do before a shift???

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I show up a bit early, and gauge the "Chaos Factor" before hitting the floor. If 'the natives' are restless, I know what to do.

Suebird :)

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Specializes in PICU.

I get a cup of coffee and say a prayer before I woprk. It helps me mentally prepare for the night/day

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I show up a bit early, and gauge the "Chaos Factor" before hitting the floor. If 'the natives' are restless, I know what to do.

Suebird :)

So do I! I always do a quick walkabout to see what's going on. I make note of the bedsides that have the crowds around them and pray on my way to the staff room that I'm not at one of them... but I usually am. While I'm driving in I try to guess what my assignment will be based on what I read in the paper or heard on the news before I left the house. The gigantic teenaged MVC victim is always a good guess, as is the complex congenital heart repair post-op admission when I've had a poor sleep. I only wish it worked for the lottery numbers. Sigh.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

I do the opposite. I use every spare minute of my time for me before I walk out there and don't leave the house one minute earlier than I have to. If there's chaos, I'll know it soon enough. I've become very protective of my personal time. I don't even talk about my job when I'm off.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.

I like giving myself enough time to clear my head before my shift. The day always starts off better if I have ample time to make the transition between home "Me" and work "Me". I also pray, like a couple others that have posted. I ask God for the wisdom to make the right decisions I need to when they're needed the most (and all the times in between).

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Specializes in Med/Surge.

The way that I prepare for each shift is I listen to music on my way. Thank goodness for XM radio, I drive 45 minutes one way and can always find something to listen to usually upbeat and sometimes loud, but I am ready to work when I get there.

On the way home it's almost always quiet in the car!! That is how I unwind so when I walk in the door at home I have my Mom hat on again!!

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I get up early @5 am and meander around my house and get coffee/cig on board, shower... pet my cats/dogs for being quiet and not waking their daddy up.... loving attempt to wake my teenage daughter up so she can turn back into human form as she wakes up vile and evil.... then I get my v-8 juice and get my bag and get into the vehicle and I turn the A/C full blast and pop in my Aretha Franklin CD and sing at the top of my lungs as I drive to work...

I then park in the garage and walk about what seems like forwever to the hospital and get up to my unit and By then I am ready to deal!!!!

I get home after 12-13 hrs of nurse... and become super mom and coook and clean and then fall into my jaccuzzi and soak away the day....

It works for me!!!

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