What are some psychological effects of being a nurse?

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Mar 7, 2009

I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but I can tell you that as soon as I meet someone, I automatically start assessing their physical and emotional condition.

Before I became a nurse, I'd be checking out their financial status by what clothes they wore, how big their house was, and what kind of vehicle they drove. I think my priorities are more realistic now.

waitingforthedream · Mar 7, 2009

Mine is the fact that we know to much. Every sniffle in our child is worse then it really is, every symptom I learned about was one I had. LOL, now that I look back on it, it's funny. But sometimes ignorance is bliss! Had anxiety issues during student years while learning, fine now.

Mr Ian · Mar 7, 2009

yeah what angie said - tho I'm mental health so I'm always watching people - but that might have been me before nursing anyhow.

Lots of the skills for nursing can be adapted to every day life - assertiveness, systematic problem solving, task management

But so too exposure to human devastation can lead the nurse to become either despairing or 'hardened' to some of life's dramas.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2009

look up stress related to any stressful job such as ,air traffic controller, dentist.MD.paramedic,highway patrol,and flight nurse. and trauma nursing Also look up post traumatic stress disorder. Then you just apply it to nursing b/c its all the same or similar....b/c we are all human beings. Since nurses function in so many different capacities and we all have diiferent abilities to cope you can use some examples where different kinds of nursing produce more stress and effect on them. Remember we are a helping profession of givers. I know a lot of nurses with depression....sleep distubances....obesity....substance abuse.....troubled relationships......dealing with fear of seroconversion after blood exposure to HIV infected blood....just plain old stress from working too hard all the time....physical exhaustion.....lack of emphaty b/c they are burned out from giving....anxiety disorders from the work enviroment and culture of tattle telling in the profession + other stuff of course.....I could go on and on. You get the idea and you can find the information out there you just have to look in the right places

Scrubby · Mar 7, 2009

Hi, I have been a nurse for 1 1/2 years. I am currently working on my bachelor degree. I am working on an issues project in my political policy class. One question asked is 'what are some psychological effects of being a nurse?' I have researched this question, but there is not much listed. So I figured I would ask those individuals who know first hand. All comments welcome!! Thanks!!

I would look up stress, the effects of shift work, depression, back injuries.

Can I ask are you actually a nurse or a nursing student? I'm a bit confused because you say your doing a bachelor degree..

smiles9960 · Mar 8, 2009

I am currently a RN. I have my associate's degree.

massrn116 · Mar 8, 2009

always thinking you'll be second guessed....feeling like you are doing the best you can but always being judged in a negative light....making your patient look and feel better than the previous shift but getting no praise for it.....getting the most difficult patient to cooperate but getting no praise from your co-workers.....watching your back even though you know you have love and compassion for the patient....going home and wondering what you could have done better....having a negative patient outcome and wondering how many hold you responsible for it....sometimes it just hurts

deepdimplesrn · Mar 8, 2009

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/occup_workplace/nurse.html

TRY THIS LINK MAY SOME OF WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

chicookie, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2009

I know that for me its really changed my attitude in a bad way unfortunately. Before I would do favors for everyone; now no one can ask me for favors. Because everyone is always asking something from me I am to the point that I just can't stand it anymore. Its like LEAVE ME ALONE! and makes me want to move to a deserted island.

Oh and I am cranky all the time but that may be the lack of sleep.

nurse15dc · Mar 8, 2009

I can relate to massrn116's comment of feeling like I constantly have to watch my back at work. And maybe a few other psychological changes. Two people very close to me who don't know each other made the exact same observations of how I've changed in the yrs since starting work as an RN. (btw I became an RN at age 36 so my personality traits were probably already well established.) They're comments were well meaning but they surprised me. Both said I was always known for my 'sweetness', calm even temperament, sensitivity, and cheerfulness. I never thought nursing could change me that much but I trust they were being honest. I admit I never used to feel angry or depressed very often. And in my work before nursing-I never had a job where I felt paranoid or judged to this extent.

always thinking you'll be second guessed....feeling like you are doing the best you can but always being judged in a negative light....making your patient look and feel better than the previous shift but getting no praise for it.....getting the most difficult patient to cooperate but getting no praise from your co-workers.....watching your back even though you know you have love and compassion for the patient....going home and wondering what you could have done better....having a negative patient outcome and wondering how many hold you responsible for it....sometimes it just hurts

Neveranurseagain, RN · Mar 8, 2009

I don't have evidence but it seems ALOT of nurses who post here are on antidepressants or use sleeping meds!