Work stress: where do you find support?

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Obviously, respecting HIPAA Privacy Rules/PHIPA legislation and not disclosing identifying details... who do you speak with regarding your work stress? Alternatively, where/with whom do you find support? Do you speak to your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, partner, friend, colleague, therapist, or all of the above? Where do you get your support from? Does someone do something nice for you after you suggest you've had a tough shift that helps (ex. draw you a bath, make you dinner)? A woman who volunteers at the same cancer charity I do said she was able to endure the tough realities and stress of working as a hospice and palliative care Nurse because of the support from her "loving and doting husband". Within the context of our conversation, she said it in a way as to suggest that because I am single, perhaps that is why I find it tougher, or more stressful than she did. Rather than be offended, I wondered if she might be right? Then, it made me wonder how/where other Nurses find support so they can press play and repeat with the realities of their job stress. I personally try to refrain from sharing my experiences with non-nurses and speak to colleagues, or vent here, and swimming is a tremendous help for me.

How about you fellow Nurses?

[vanilla bean]

Where do you get your support from? Does someone do something nice for you after you suggest you've had a tough shift that helps (ex. draw you a bath, make you dinner)?

My husband is my main source of support. I think what he does that's "nice" for me is to listen to me vent, yet again, about school/work/friends/family/you-name-it without so much as a sigh or eye roll.

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

My husband is my main source of support. I think what he does that's "nice" for me is to listen to me vent, yet again, about school/work/friends/family/you-name-it without so much as a sigh or eye roll.

Aww, he sounds like a gem! I'm glad you have that support in your life :)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I'm married now, to a fellow RN. We support each other. We encounter the same patients, so perhaps we have a unique situation re: HIPAA. But no one understands the pressures of nursing like a fellow nurse.

That said, I was single for most of my adult life. I learned to give support to my colleagues and to accept it from them. Most of my friends are nurses, and we support each other as well. I remember having an awful shift on the east coast and calling my west coast friends at midnight (my time). I remember working on the west coast and at 2am, an east coast friend called to tell me about the patient she'd lost and how horrible she felt about the manner of the death. I journaled, walked my dogs for long distances after a rough shift, or soaked in the bath with a scented candle, a glass of wine and my favorite music.

Not all spouses get it. Being single isn't the problem. You have to develop your own support system. Friends, colleagues, some family members, clergy . . . Support systems come in all shapes and sizes. You need to take the time to BE a support for others as well.

[Jules A, MSN]

My friends who are colleagues are the ones I feel best understand and are able to offer relevant insight and advice.

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I learned to give support to my colleagues and to accept it from them. Most of my friends are nurses, and we support each other as well....Being single isn't the problem....no one understands the pressures of nursing like a fellow nurse.

Couldn't agree more with everything you've said! I am the only single person in my current bedside position and while I really like my colleagues a lot, the majority are very conservative in their views and offer unsolicited advice sometimes. They seem to believe being SINGLE is almost a symptom spinsters like me need to overcome... and how all/any problems are solved with marriage. I know this is untrue, but it's a sore point for me since I would love to have a lovely partner because being a support to myself all the time... it be nicer to have someone else around, y'know? Anyways, I find the bulk of my support exclusively from fellow Nurses ONLY, and usually refrain from communicating my job-stress to non-nurses b/c I believe that no one can understand what we go through or offer adequate/relevant support other than nurses. But was/am open to other suggestions.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

My mother, she has a bachelor's degree in science so she knows what I'm talking about.

My husband if I just need to vent about petty things.