Struggling to be a Christian Nurse

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jun 7, 2018

Sounds like you are having a stress response related to frustration with the patient population. Some patients are more difficult to care for and can wear you down. They probably are just as frustrated and feel helpless to improve their health and struggle with several chronic diseases. CHF is particularly difficult to treat and stabilize long term even when the patients take all their meds and is further complicated by renal failure. It can be disheartening to realize many times we can't cure disease only treat the symptoms and there will inevitably continue to be flareups and further declines for some patients especially those with CHF, CRF and diabetes. Just take it day by day and do your best. Forgive yourself for your anger. Think how you would want to be treated or how you would treat a loved one. Try to find ways to de-stress such as taking a vacation, getting enough sleep, taking a walk, spending time with family, friends, pets or pursuing a hobby on your off time. Consider asking for a break from a difficult patient if you need to.

caliotter3 · Jun 7, 2018

Counseling, lay or spiritual-based or both, might be of great help. Many healthcare workers participate in therapy to help cope with their work.

brownbook · Jun 7, 2018

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Are you without sin? You have become angry towards sick people. You are easily influenced by the negative comments of ignorant coworkers. (Honestly I don't think this about you...I am just trying to give some examples.)

So your patients are slothful? I would think these frequent flyers are scared, know they have serious cardiac disease, are facing their own death. They may be dealing with it with denial.

I may be terribly naive but I don't believe patients think......"Oh yeah, I need some rest and relaxation, I will eat the wrong foods, stop taking my medication, stop exercising, so my doctor will admit me to the hospital again because hospitals are such great places." Unless your hospital is some kind of luxurious health spa first class hotel type of hospital?

As to your ignorant coworkers....I love the saying...Don't lower yourself to their level, raise them to your level. But actually I wouldn't get into a discussion with them, just ignore them.

And if nothing else, these patients give you job security :).

allnurses Guide · Jun 10, 2018

I am a multi-denominational Christian and try to live by the message of Christ. What that means to me is to try to walk in HIs path, try not to judge, and be forgiving and to treat all my patients as Jesus did when healed the 10 Lepers in Luke 17:11-19. At the time people with leprosy were considered to have been unclean and sinful and therefore deserving of their affliction. I work in adolescent female psych and it is a most challenging of populations. This does not mean I consider my self a prefect person in any way, I still get Hungry , angry , lonely, tired and sad but as a group of friends and I will tell you, "We aim for progress not perfection. "

As for patients coming to hospital for a few days rest and relaxation I can tell you being in the hospital is not restful.

AS with co-workers if they criticize you must look with yourself and see if any of it is correct. Then own it and fix it. If it's just childish nonsense forget it.

Hppy

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 10, 2018

I kind of think you are confusing "Christian nurse" with "Perfect nurse".

You are human.

Wiggly Litchi · Jun 12, 2018

I kind of think you are confusing "Christian nurse" with "Perfect nurse".
You are human.

I wish I could like this more than once.

adyson97 · Jun 12, 2018

Hey your not the only one! I'm a christain as well and always I felt like my strong point was being patient with my patients lol. But now being on the floor of General Surgury we get a lot of people than seem like they are doing nothing to help change their current condition, and it has gotten under my skin. I love these comments with realizing your not perfect and also not judging. Those two points are super important to remember. I don't have the answers, but stick in there I think the devil is just trying to get you down.

127001 · Jun 14, 2018

Spirituality guides the way we care, but should not condemn the way we feel while caring. As others have said, you're human and are allowed to make mistakes. There's grace for that. Crucial to being able to continue in healthcare, is caring for yourself. What are you doing to relieve the stress and tension you pile on yourself at work? Counseling, (sacred and secular) will give you tools to process and cope in healthy ways. Remember the people you're serving are made in God's image. While that likeness is damaged by sin and their own choices, you serve God and them by caring for them.

allnurses Guide · Jun 15, 2018

I get those a lot in the ER. And I start getting the same attitude. Well, still do as a matter of fact. As said above, we are human. We like to be thanked once in a while.

What I tell myself is: "Christ died for him too".

Emergent, RN · Jun 15, 2018

You have to learn to practice detached concern. Detachment is something the religious orders in traditional Christianity teach. You can be concerned without emotional involvement.

Another technique I use is humor. I've always been an observer of humanity. Nursing is the mother lode for a people watcher, a virtual freak show. It's better than reality TV. There are a lot of ridiculous situations that are highly amusing.

offlabel · Jun 15, 2018

Being a faithful Christian doesn't mean you're disqualified from intellectually processing stuff. I happen to believe that it makes for more coherent processing, but that's for another thread. Frustration at sick people not getting better for whatever reason is rarely because of the reasons you're thinking are causing it. Christianity, if nothing else, is an acknowledgement of the dignity of the human person as a creature of God. Disorder, physical, spiritual or psychological, is hard for us to witness because we know that that isn't part of the plan, thus, frustration and maybe even anger.

First off, you can be pretty safe knowing that, if the patient were given the choice to be sick right then or not, they'd be siding with you. What capacities, shortcomings, challenges, whatever, the patient has in their life that has brought them to you is impossible to know. These things could go back decades.

Understanding that you have no control at all about the patient's past and decision making really helps. Then the patient's life just becomes an opportunity that our Lord, in His mercy, has given you to care for Him. Don't miss it.

Go back and re-read Mt 25:44