Nurses Facing a Personal Crisis Very few people go through life without a crisis every now and then. Some people endure a number of issues throughout life that would be considered a crisis, and nurses are no exception. So how do you handle a crisis? You can't let it show to your patients, so it more or less has to be left at the hospital door. Of course, you can't leave a portion of your mind at the door, so it accompanies you mentally as you work. Working with a Distracted mind No matter how hard you may try, when there is a big problem or turmoil in your personal life, it's going to be on your mind, regardless of what you are doing. The first thing to do, is accept that, you cannot wish it away or bury it. You can give it a temporary hiatus. Before you go to work tell yourself you will put the problem on a back burner, and pick it up after work. Of course, it won't go away totally, but you can occupy your mind with work and give the problem a break. It is vital to maintain the ability to pay close attention at your job. Nursing is critical, and there must be focus to adequately perform your job. In the event your problem is too distracting, it would be necessary to advise your supervisor, you cannot do your job and take a personal day. You would never want to add to a problem by creating another problem at work, you need to determine if you can handle work sufficiently. Problem Jars Have you ever heard of a problem jar, or a trouble box? Some people swear by them and say writing down the problem on paper, followed by placing it in the jar or box, and then returning to it later is the right thing to do. Writing it down somewhat clears the mind, and actually may help you reach a solution. Regardless, placing it away physically may help put it aside for the time being. It is a custom in Italy to have these boxes, and as a general rule small angel figurines see on top of the box, or inside the box. The meaning is that you are turning over the problem to the angels. Related: How to Look Out for an Online Nursing Degree Scam Talking to Someone When a problem is upon us, the chances are excellent that discussing it with someone will help. It may be that a spouse or family member is too close to the situation, and it needs to be someone out of that small circle. A good friend may be an option. If the friend is a good listener, that may be the
right choice, sometimes discussing a problem puts it into perspective, and it's not as bad as you thought it would be. If there is not a close friend that you feel comfortable sharing information with, maybe it would be good to visit a therapist. Talking to a co-worker, unless you happen to know them very well, it's probably not the best idea. Sharing problems with work is a bad idea. That also brings up sharing problems via social media. There is too much drama on social media as it is, so keeping your problems out of the limelight there is most likely the best idea. If you share social media accounts with coworkers, keep in mind that you may be sharing less than professional postings, and problems in particular can become the source of rumor mills in a work environment. Problems should be shared, especially if it's a crisis situation that you need to get advice on or simply vent about. Just pick and choose carefully whom you decide to share personal or private information with, as a general rule coworkers are not a good option. One quick trick for s problem is to write down numbers 1-10 and list a world crisis as number 10 and list something minor like you forgot your lunch as number one. Now fill in the middle where your problem lies, it may not be as severe as you thought. Related: Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Heather Elan Mingo, NP, RN, PhDc, will be Noted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter