How Nurses Can Handle Bad Days at Work and Bounce Back Stronger

Experiencing negative emotions at work is a common occurrence among nurses. Taking care of patients on the floor during emergencies means navigating a range of emotions that can arise—from disappointment, anger, and pain to positive feelings that finally emerge whenever a patient recovers.

However, sometimes you have a shift where everything feels like it’s going wrong. A patient is being rude, there are not enough nurses on duty, or a patient with severe complications is taking a turn for the worse.

Navigating bad nursing moments might feel like the end of the world, but there are ways to lessen the emotional pain that lingers after your shift. Here are some ways to manage those days so you can release those intense emotions.

Accept Emotions That Come Up

Stressful, intense situations in fast-paced environments such as the ER, OR, or inpatient facilities can create negative emotions that are hard to ignore, no matter how much you want to do so. Ignoring these emotions and feelings after a traumatic event can even cause nurses to develop compassion fatigue and burnout.

However, when nurses acknowledge their own feelings, they feel calmer, more balanced, and self-aware.

One way to do this is by naming the feeling that arises. It can be helpful to acknowledge the feeling or emotion with an “I am” statement, such as “I am feeling angry.” You don’t have to think about why you feel angry; doing this might intensify the emotion and cause you to get caught up in a negative thought loop.

Instead of thinking about why you’re angry, think about how the emotion feels in your body. If you’re not used to doing this, you might not notice any sensations. That’s okay— any attempt at practicing self-awareness means you’re choosing to feel calmer instead of feeling tense.

Breathe Slowly to Relax

Another low-stakes strategy to minimize your stress is to take deep breaths. Again, you don’t have to be in a quiet space to do this. Any space works as long as you’re paying attention to your breath.

There are different ways to practice deep breathing, but the simplest method is to take a deep breath until your belly starts to feel full (up to a count of 5, if possible). Then, exhale gently, counting up to 5. Do this for 5 minutes or whenever you have time during your shift.

Take it One Shift at a Time

Life has its struggles, so it’s normal to have one or two bad days as a nurse. When you’re in the middle of a crisis, however, it’s hard to gain that perspective in the moment.

Remember that bad days aren’t every day— those moments are only happening right now. Reflect on how you typically feel during most shifts. It’s likely that if you’re happy with your job, most days are manageable and even give you a sense of purpose on your best days.

No nurse has perfect shifts all the time, especially those in critical care or the ER. For many nurses, it’s about finding a balance between what you can mitigate and what’s too much to handle. Not everyone can be a nurse on tough days, so be proud that you’ve made it through a bad day. The fact that you showed up and put in an effort despite feeling overwhelmed is a feat worthy of celebration.

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Karie Pinnix

Karie Pinnix is a public relations strategist and freelance journalist with experience writing content for print and broadcast platforms and creating branding development with start-up companies. She’s written about topics like college nightlife, community organizations in Mississippi, and the nurse shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. When she’s not working, you can find her exploring nature, catching up on reading, or traveling to the nearest beach.