when do you stop bringing work home?

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in PACU.

hello,

I started my first rn position in feb of this year. i have had a lot of class time as part of my orientation, but now its over and i am mainly on my unit. every night i leave, i worry about my patients, i worry if i did everything right, if they are still alive, if someone;s gonna write me up or something, etc, etc. my preceptor and coworkers say i am doing very well and not to worry, but i cant help it.

i constantly worry, especially after i send my patients to the floor that i forgot to do something or that i did something wrong and that i will get in trouble.

on the brighter side, i have pretty much been carrying for my patients on my own with only my preceptor functioning as my nursing assisstant. i havent gotten in trouble yet, but i would like to stop worrying so much! when does it stop????

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Speaking for myself only, I still worry about my patients. I worry less when I pray for them, so that works for me.

You'll bring work home less when you have more experience and feel more confidence with your skills. IMO, this worry after work is your way of processing the events of the workday. You can use it to your advantage and improve how you do things by keeping a journal at home.

Before I started a journal, I used to come home and vent to my (poor, poor) DH. I hardly ever need to tell him about it now, unless I have an unusually heartbreaking case, or if I'm disturbed that there's more going on with a patient than we've figured out so far.

It helps to discuss your fears and questions with another professional, too, which is why so many of us post here. I've had a lot of my questions answered here as well as finding that I was certainly not alone in my feelings of fear and anxiety as a new nurse.

So don't worry, it'll get better as you find new ways to cope with the stress and find your footing as a professional. :icon_hug:

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Specializes in PACU.

i have to start posting here more often!

i like the idea of a journal too....

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I've wondered the same thing many times... often I can't get to sleep because images of the shift are constantly running through my head. And making a careless med error within the first two months didn't help matters any!! I think it just takes time and experience... at least I hope that helps. You're not alone, believe me!!!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Wait a minute.........you're supposed to stop bringing work home??

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Specializes in PACU.
Wait a minute.........you're supposed to stop bringing work home??

lol?

i dont think i will truly ever stop bringing work home. i find that its just me.... i worry a lot and genuinely care about my patients. i dont stress the whole time i am off from work, but usuallly on the drive home and maybe for a few hours my whole day keeps playing through my head.

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Specializes in LTC and MED-SURG.

Now this is something that I don't (as a rule) do. For my health and sanity, I have to tell myself at the end of each shift (15 minutes to an hour after rather) that I've done my best and I pass it on to the next shift. I am very conscientious throughout my shift, so I don't leave much leftover to do. I do follow-up on some of my patients, just becauset I care about their progress and well-being.

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Specializes in ICU.

depends on the day i've had - sometimes you can't help but dwell on the day's events.

i started my journal from orientation, and just the other day i looked back over it - it's pretty amazing to think i survived some of those days, when every first sentence began with " today i want to quit".:uhoh21:

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Thanks for your thoughts! I just started a new thread on this. I am a new grad (May 07), started a NRP program in Ocober and precepted in the ICU for a step-down unit. Well our unit is finally open and I am off orientatation, and on a new unit. I still have a resource person but I really find it challanging to get use to a whole new system and still be off orientation. I too worry about my patients when I leave work. I too rehash every patient detail and wonder if I missed something etc... I do try and repeat the mantra that I have done my best but sometimes that is just now good enough.

The idea of keeping a jornal is great!

Any other ideas would be greatly appricated regarding bringing work home.

thanks again,

pasha :-)

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