2 answers
Quinn
Student
Northfield, Ohio
2
Questions
Updated
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What is something unexpected during your journey as a nurse that you found challenging or difficult, and how did you overcome that?
How do I avoid that issue?
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2 answers
Danielle Gaby Rodriguez
8
Answers
Updated
Danielle’s Answer
Some challenges I came across during my nursing career were a few I would like to share and give advice and hope it is helpful in some way to you and other future nurses :)
* Don't let the nursing title take your identity: Yes be proud to be a nurse, but don't make that to be the only thing about you. You have a life outside your nursing job. Do your job and leave work at work and enjoy your time off with yourself and/or loved ones. I took up hobbies being one of sketching in my free time to de stress and take off my mind from work.
* One doesn't feel like a true nurse until you start working as one: I did not feel like a true nurse until I was working on the unit and felt that the books did not prepare me for every scenario out there. I mean by this with dealing with families, patients, doctors, other staff, etc. There is so much more than what a book can teach you and I felt that I learned a lot being with my preceptor to gain that life experiences that you usually can't get and understand fully from textbooks themselves.
* To try to not be attached to patients/residents: In the end nursing is job but very special job. But to protect yourself and especially emotional well being is to not become attached to the patients/residents. It is always healthy and important to set up boundaries and to not get too attached for death itself happens when you work in healthcare.
Great question and best of luck to you in your nursing adventures :)
* Don't let the nursing title take your identity: Yes be proud to be a nurse, but don't make that to be the only thing about you. You have a life outside your nursing job. Do your job and leave work at work and enjoy your time off with yourself and/or loved ones. I took up hobbies being one of sketching in my free time to de stress and take off my mind from work.
* One doesn't feel like a true nurse until you start working as one: I did not feel like a true nurse until I was working on the unit and felt that the books did not prepare me for every scenario out there. I mean by this with dealing with families, patients, doctors, other staff, etc. There is so much more than what a book can teach you and I felt that I learned a lot being with my preceptor to gain that life experiences that you usually can't get and understand fully from textbooks themselves.
* To try to not be attached to patients/residents: In the end nursing is job but very special job. But to protect yourself and especially emotional well being is to not become attached to the patients/residents. It is always healthy and important to set up boundaries and to not get too attached for death itself happens when you work in healthcare.
Great question and best of luck to you in your nursing adventures :)
Maureen Komperda
Nurse Practitioner
58
Answers
Elmhurst, Illinois
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
Hi Quinn,
The hardest part of nursing is dealing with a patient's death. When I was an Assistant Professor at a large medical center, I taught in the ICU. I would ask students if they wanted to work with a dying patient to help them gain experience and guide them through it. Facing the death of your first patient can be tough unless you've dealt with a lot of loss before.
In the MICU where I worked, many patients had multisystem organ failure, so we experienced a lot of deaths. We often got very attached to our patients; some nurses even called in on their days off to check on them. It's important to have an outlet away from patient care. For me, it was community theater, where I acted and helped with lights and sound. Activities like exercise, hobbies, gardening, hiking, being in nature, or exploring spirituality can help manage the emotions you feel at work. Talking to other nurses, family, or friends and debriefing is crucial for staying grounded.
The hardest part of nursing is dealing with a patient's death. When I was an Assistant Professor at a large medical center, I taught in the ICU. I would ask students if they wanted to work with a dying patient to help them gain experience and guide them through it. Facing the death of your first patient can be tough unless you've dealt with a lot of loss before.
In the MICU where I worked, many patients had multisystem organ failure, so we experienced a lot of deaths. We often got very attached to our patients; some nurses even called in on their days off to check on them. It's important to have an outlet away from patient care. For me, it was community theater, where I acted and helped with lights and sound. Activities like exercise, hobbies, gardening, hiking, being in nature, or exploring spirituality can help manage the emotions you feel at work. Talking to other nurses, family, or friends and debriefing is crucial for staying grounded.