Stress Relief after a BAD shift?

Nurses Stress 101

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Hello my fellow nurses!

Like all of us nurses, I know we all have our BAD shifts where everything under the sun can go wrong...so I was just curious, what do you guys do to relieve that stress after the shift is over?

I was thinking about joining a gun club so I could shoot off a couple rounds after a shift since I am not a drinker, smoker, or exerciser...haha! Then, I was wondering if that makes me psychotic because you know I'd imagine certain people's faces :D

Please share!

Hahaha...THANKS FOR THE REPLIES! I'll keep everything in mind tonight! Someone mentioned about having crazy, hot sex! I am married and my husband is already at work when I come home so I WISH that would work out in my favor ! A few others mentioned leaving the stress at work after giving report. I'll admit, that does help a lot, it would help more if I didn't already know I was coming back to see those certain patients two more days in a row! Haha.

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I have a coworker who can go home and completely leave work at work. I am so jealous. That is my idea of stress relief.

For myself yoga has been a great stress reliever. I have nothing again a beer or a glass of wine either.

I can do this. My work stays at work. But on rare occasion, Im keeping something in my mind, nice loud music on the way home & when I get there, my dog. She's always so happy!! :-)

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I took up playing video games! :D Recently I've been playing a game called Call of Duty: Black Ops. You can really take a lot of frustration out on that game!!!

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Specializes in CVICU.
Pet the cat. Cats are serenity on 4 feet.

I love my cats! I have one who just seems to know when I've had a bad shift (or just a bad day in general). He comes and snuggles at my side and lays his big head (he's a 20+ lb russian blue) on top of my hand and purrs as loud as he can :redpinkhe.

I love the suggestions of wine too but being night shift, I can't bring myself to have a drink that early in the day (having been married to a heavy drinker in a past incarnation) so I try to unwind some other way...read a book, watch TV or play a mindless computer game on facebook ;). My husband is a nurse and venting to him always helps since he, 1. understands and 2. can offer me a different perspective on the situation. I like to save the glass of wine (or pomagrante martini) for later when I can enjoy it without feeling guilty! :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I take my 9mm down to the local range and fire off a couple hundred rounds about every 2 weeks. Its amazing stress relief. I also study Tai Chi, and will frequently go to the local park to get some practice/meditation in. I am also studying the Tai Chi sword forms, and enjoy hacking apart an innocent box once in awhile with my sharp sword. Yes, I get weird looks when I tell people about the above, but it allows me to get rid of stress and get back to being a great nurse my next shift.

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Specializes in OB.

Call up one very good nurse friend who does NOT work with me and vent away. She is a good enough friend that I can say all the evil things that go through my head with no fear that she will judge me for them and I know they will never go any further.

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Specializes in Addiction / Pain Management.

12 year old scotch

1 very good cigar

Classical music

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Specializes in Neuro, Rehab, Ltc mng.

I agree with the wine. My husband never understood, now he's an RN and has taken up a glass of wine after work. I also picture jumping into a swimming pool and sit on the bottom of the pool while I'm at work...my little escape.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I agree with the wine. My husband never understood, now he's an RN and has taken up a glass of wine after work. I also picture jumping into a swimming pool and sit on the bottom of the pool while I'm at work...my little escape.

Funny you mention sitting on the bottom of the pool. I had a neighbor (an MD) who would put on his scuba gear and O2 tank and do just what you described. He'd sit on the bottom of our community pool. He told me it was the only place he had total peace and nobody could bother him.

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Specializes in Med Surge, Tele, Oncology, Wound Care.

I talk about it. I will vent to my husband (who is a firefighter) and my sister.

Or

Massage

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Specializes in LPN.
I took up playing video games! :D Recently I've been playing a game called Call of Duty: Black Ops. You can really take a lot of frustration out on that game!!!

Ha Ha! My son and husband play Call of Duty and Battlefield..etc. :yeah:

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Talking a long walk in the woods

Spending time with my pet

Cranking up the music

Hot Shower

and then sitting in my human touch Massage chair, best purchase ever!

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