Working in the healthcare field is an emotionally intense profession. Speaking from a personal standpoint, working as a nurse in the intensive care unit is a challenging position. With the high degree of uncertainty being a constant battle, nurses working in the intensive care unit surmount their emotions using a multitude of strategies to suppress emotional distress that may occur on the job. The patient’s admitted into intensive care units are in a critical state and at any moment, their status can decompensate in a blink of an eyes. Moreover, not only are nurses taking care of these patients to ensure they make it to the next day, but they are also providing constant emotional support to the patients family members as well. Therefore, with
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Working in these intense, emotionally driven units where the threat and presence of death is constant, maintaining an emotional distance is almost necessary (Hammonds & Cadge, 2014). Negotiating these emotional boundaries aids in protecting the well being of nurses due to their close connections with both their patients and the patients families. Although there is a strong attempt to disconnect emotionally, when interviewed, the majority of the nurses reported thinking of their patients outside of work. Whether it be thinking about the patients’ medical condition, or thinking about how the patient is doing, it is almost impossible to completely disconnect. The situations that we come across sometimes at work are some of the most traumatizing moments of a patients life as well as the nurse caring for them. I have had situations where I have had patients my age pass away right before my eyes, and the emotions that come about can be extremely overwhelming. Not only do you become flooded with emotions in that moment, but those emotions travel home with you in those situations more often than …show more content…
Three major strategies were reported including venting to colleagues, reconstructing the situation as a positive, and talking with the families (Hammonds & Cadge, 2014). From the data collected from speaking with the nurses interviewed, the most common way nurses disclosed managing with emotions at work was by talking to their coworkers. A fundamental element for a healthy work environment is a team who works closely to support one another and works as one. This enables nurses to feel comfortable with one another to turn to each other during difficult emotional times that may arise. Another benefit to being able to talk to coworkers is that they can relate to and understand the emotions that are being felt in that moment. Reconstructing the situation into something positive can also be beneficial for nurses. I remember I had a difficult time with my first patient who was designated as brain dead. This was the first situation that I was in contact with CORE, Center for Organ Recovery and Education, and they truly helped with the coping of this experience. Through working with them and the patients family, my outlook on the situation was changed knowing that although an unfortunate situation had happened, lives were saved through organ
Working in these intense, emotionally driven units where the threat and presence of death is constant, maintaining an emotional distance is almost necessary (Hammonds & Cadge, 2014). Negotiating these emotional boundaries aids in protecting the well being of nurses due to their close connections with both their patients and the patients families. Although there is a strong attempt to disconnect emotionally, when interviewed, the majority of the nurses reported thinking of their patients outside of work. Whether it be thinking about the patients’ medical condition, or thinking about how the patient is doing, it is almost impossible to completely disconnect. The situations that we come across sometimes at work are some of the most traumatizing moments of a patients life as well as the nurse caring for them. I have had situations where I have had patients my age pass away right before my eyes, and the emotions that come about can be extremely overwhelming. Not only do you become flooded with emotions in that moment, but those emotions travel home with you in those situations more often than …show more content…
Three major strategies were reported including venting to colleagues, reconstructing the situation as a positive, and talking with the families (Hammonds & Cadge, 2014). From the data collected from speaking with the nurses interviewed, the most common way nurses disclosed managing with emotions at work was by talking to their coworkers. A fundamental element for a healthy work environment is a team who works closely to support one another and works as one. This enables nurses to feel comfortable with one another to turn to each other during difficult emotional times that may arise. Another benefit to being able to talk to coworkers is that they can relate to and understand the emotions that are being felt in that moment. Reconstructing the situation into something positive can also be beneficial for nurses. I remember I had a difficult time with my first patient who was designated as brain dead. This was the first situation that I was in contact with CORE, Center for Organ Recovery and Education, and they truly helped with the coping of this experience. Through working with them and the patients family, my outlook on the situation was changed knowing that although an unfortunate situation had happened, lives were saved through organ