I Cried After Placement

Dear Nurse J,

I’m a first-year student nurse on my first proper placement, and this week I had a confronting shift with a patient who suddenly became really sick and went to ICU. I held it together at the time, but as soon as I got home, I completely broke down and ugly cried. Now I feel embarrassed and worried I might be too sensitive for nursing. Should I be rethinking this career??

- Tearful

Nurse J says…

Hi Tearful,

Look—if you weren’t affected, I’d be more concerned. You’ve just seen serious illness and serious vulnerability up close for the first time. Of course it hit you. Just about every nurse I know has cried after a hard shift (and if they say they haven’t, they’re probably lying).

The goal isn’t to stop feeling—it’s to learn how to handle it without it taking you down every time.

Debrief; talk it out, don’t bottle it up. Talk to your preceptor or clinical facilitator, pronto.

Caring is the job. You’re doing it.

— Nurse J