When The Nurse Is Stretched Too Thin

In all likelihood, we can all readily agree that nursing is not for the faint of heart. Nurses in many different settings can be pushed to the breaking point, driven to the precipice of burnout, compassion fatigue, and utter defeat. But there is indeed another way.Nurses are often seen as strong figures who can tend to the sick, stand on their feet for hours on end, simultaneously care for multiple critical patients, and document it all like a pro. Many years ago, I wrote aboutthe Sisyphean nature of nursing, a topic I should probably revisit sooner than later.We can think of the nurse as Sisyphus, pushing a boulder uphill with no hopes of tomorrow being any different. We can also consider the metaphor of the elastic band stretched beyond its capacity. Our breaking points are individual, as are the events or circumstances that will trigger our breakdown or moment of snapping.What ' s Your Capacity? Nurses, it ' s up to you to determine for yourself what your capacity for stress and unhappiness really is. No one on the outside can really tell you what you should or shouldn ' t be feeling on the inside. Your ability to determine your own capacity is part of your emotional intelligence and your personal insight into the workings of your own psyche.The nurse who brags that she can face any challenge or work any number of shifts without blinking an eye is probably lying -- either to you, or to herself. We ' ve all probably encountered those highly seasoned nurses -- some woul...
Source: Digital Doorway - Category: Nursing Tags: career healthcare careers nurse nurse career nurse careers nurse wellness nurses nurses health nursing Source Type: blogs