What do you tell yourself to get you through a shift?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2014

You need to take a deep breath. You can only do so much.

What do I say?

I owe I owe so off to work I go.

After all tomorrows another day.

It really could be worse.

It is what it is.

I am only human.

At least all the patients are safe and no one died.....It is a good day.

j0yegan · Dec 1, 2014

Those are good self-quotes.

Admins are messed up with all these new rules. They don't care at all how hard they are working us. So I like to tell myself: They don't care; so why should I?

RainMom · Dec 2, 2014

I'll get to it when I get to it.

Everybody's breathing.

Selfie · Dec 2, 2014

I may have to stay late. It's no big deal. If I have to stay late, I have to stay late.

RN403, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2014

As long as all of my patients are alive when I go home, I did my job.

Just keep breathing.

Just go with the flow, RN403.

Never talked to myself so much until I became a nurse.

4everstudent15 · Dec 2, 2014

I begin my shift by telling myself i 12 hours to go...then in an hour I'll remind myself 11 hours left...after 60 minutes I get happy cause now I only have 10 hours left in my shift.

I repeat this until I only have 30 minutes left in my shift then I start a conversation with myself about how unprofessional it is of my relief to late because now I can't leave on time. Both happen every shift.

serenity1 · Dec 2, 2014

It shouldn't have to be this way....makes me sad. I tell myself it's only 3 nights a week and that it isn't forever. I tell myself I make good money and that my family counts on me. I tell myself that someday I will find a job I enjoy going to. Whatever works. I visualize clocking out and walking to my car in the morning. I love being a nurse, I do not love the hospital system.

j0yegan · Dec 2, 2014

I like the "I'll get to it when I get to it." I guess I'm such a people pleaser and I want to get everything done right at that moment. Or someone will have something bad to say about me and it finds its way to my boss / evaluation. UGGGH

About staying late, I will absolutely do all I can do to avoid staying late. People shouldn't have to do that.

And yeah, I've never talked to myself so much until I became a nurse as well.

Counting down hours just makes me feel like the day is so much longer.

And yeah, it SHOULDN'T have to be this way - finding something to tell yourself to get you through a shift. It's truly upsetting.

4everstudent15 · Dec 2, 2014

I should clarify that I'm a pool CNA at my local hospital. My assignments lately have involved sitting with patients who basically sleep my entire 7a to 7p shift or having a patient group that doesn't require much assistance.

Those type of assignments cause time to drag for me. I like to stay busy so I don't have time to watch the clock.

j0yegan · Dec 2, 2014

I should clarify that I'm a pool CNA at my local hospital. My assignments lately have involved sitting with patients who basically sleep my entire 7a to 7p shift or having a patient group that doesn't require much assistance.
Those type of assignments cause time to drag for me. I like to stay busy so I don't have time to watch the clock.

I would love to trade places with you, but keep my paycheck. lol.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Dec 3, 2014

I will probably sound slightly insane..and maybe I am. I actually do talk [mutter] to myself. I have been called on it by co-workers a few times when they overhear my mutterings. I haven't gone quite so far as to chant "I think I can, I think I can" but never say never.