Too Emotional for Nursing?

[Ayvasmom]

hello everyone,

i am starting to worry i might be to emotional to be a nurse. i worked at a neurology office for 3 years at the front desk and i would cry almost every week when i saw one of our patients get worse or sometimes even pass way. i thought it was because i saw them consistantly for those 3 years and i saw them more as friends then i did as patients. so i moved on to where i am now, at a hosptial call center scheduling radiology appoitnments; no direct face to face contact with patients. but still, patients tell me their diagnosis or their personal stories and i break down everytime. people at work laugh at me and it's funny to them but it makes me question myself. i love the medical field and i always wanted to be a nurse. i used to think that my emotions would make me a better nurse but now i wonder if it will only bring me down. i can't be sobbing with the patient, i need to be strong as a nurse. i need to be the shoulder to cry on not the one crying. is anyone else as emotional as i am? how have you controled this? should i just look for a different career path? help!

[pinkiepie_RN]

While I think it's perfectly okay to have emotion and be compassionate and empathetic in nursing, I would be a little concerned with you getting upset about almost every patient. This is not meant to be offensive but if you think you're too emotional or have trouble controlling your emotions and crying, perhaps it might be in your best interest to see a therapist. I think we've all had patients that have brought us nearly to tears, but that's not all that nursing is about. Our patients get better, move on, and do big things all because we help them heal.