Counselling Blog for Nurses
Many of us go into nursing to care for others and to make a difference.
It is a very rewarding career, but very little is talked about the wear and tear it takes on a person both on the job and off the job, from the long shifts to then demanding workload.
Nurses are expected to be on the front lines and get the job done at all costs, but to those who don’t fully understand what goes on for a nurse outside the patient room or between the patients’ rooms such as:
The constant running from room to room
The charting of every little action you did or data on patients you acquired, all while trying not to forget the list ofthings you need to do next.
The nursing bladder (if you are a nurse, you know what this is)
Caring, and being present for the patient and family of the patient you are working with.
The multiple medications for one patient you need to prep.
The constant stressors nurses endure to get their impossible list of “to do” items done on their shift all the while trying to make space for the act of empathetically caring for patients.
The ever increasing patent numbers you are taking on as the shortage of nurses increases.
You are not alone with the ever increasing stress.
The constant internal conflict and external pressure related to the current working environment and thoughts such as:
“I’m failing”,
“I don’t know enough”, and
“why am I the only one not getting my work all done”.
These thoughts can lead one to feel embarrassed and even shame that leads to isolation because of thoughts like: “no one else is struggling like me”,and “I will embarrass myself and my fellow nurses will look down on me if I ask for help”.
If any of these thoughts or experiences of nursing relate to you, YOU are definitely not alone!
The truth is nursing has become more demanding than ever before and you are feeling the impact of the stress. There may be different ways this shows up for you and there may be more than one way this presence in your life.
Some ways you may find anxiety presenting for you are:
Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, due to “worry thoughts”.
Relationally you may find yourself creating distance from others.
You may find yourself more emotionally unregulated resulting in conflict.
You find yourself feeling a sense of overwhelm or anxiety as your shift looms closer and closer.
Your calling in sick more frequently and are sick more frequently.
Noticing yourself exhausted all the time, which may lead to a lack of self-care.
These are just some ways you may find the demands of the ever increasing workload that you as a nurse endure.
If you identify with these nursing caregiver symptoms or are identifying anxiety, or burnout presenting for you I would be honoured to support you in the important work you do as a nurse.
