how do you get used to it?

[alenadoma]

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Hey everyone.. I wonder if anyone else has issues like this, or if it's just me 🙂
Today I shadowed a Leukemia pharmacist and went on rounds with the attending physician and the leukemia staff. We saw one patient who had just been admitted into the hospital, and was diagnosed with ALL right in front of my eyes. The patient was young..maybe in his 30s or so. Anyways, I felt so bad for him, and all of the other patients that we saw and I can't seem to stop thinking about it! How do doctors/clinical pharmacists get used to seeing such sick patients and not having it affect them in any way? Do you just get used to it? It seems so tough to have to get used to it..
Do you guys have experience with this? How do you deal with it??

 

[ffpickle]

I haven't had direct contact with cancer patients but I was involved in a study where I would read actual stories written by cancer patients in post-surgical debriefing surveys. I've also had a lot of contact with mentally challenged individuals.

You can get used to it, but it will always affect you emotionally.

Just take the time to reflect and appreciate all that you have.

If I am ever sad, I try to remember how fortunate I am compared to so many others.

 

[trailrider400]

yeah that is tough. my friend is a nurse and comes home feeling just trained everyday after working at the hospital. I think some people just may not be cut out to deal with that kind of stress (I'm not implying in anyway that you aren't). But overall I can't really answer the question. I'd just look at it like you're the person doing everything you can to help someone in a sad situation. I'd say you get used to it a little but never really get over it.

 

[Storm90]

I've seen numerous cancer patients over the last few years, and it's not always easy, but I'm a man of faith and that helps me. I'm not preaching, but that's what helps me get through the day. You have to be almost emotionally distant while still caring for them when they're your patient. It's especially difficult when the patients are younger (kids & teens), but it's going to happen, not everyone will live a long life, it's not fair and the sad thing is there's not a lot we can do about it. What we can do about it, we should do to the best of our abilities.

 

[xscpx]

I haven't had direct contact with cancer patients but I was involved in a study where I would read actual stories written by cancer patients in post-surgical debriefing surveys. I've also had a lot of contact with mentally challenged individuals.

You can get used to it, but it will always affect you emotionally.

Just take the time to reflect and appreciate all that you have.

If I am ever sad, I try to remember how fortunate I am compared to so many others.

You really don't get used to it, and if you do find a new profession. I have worked for Hospice for 3 years and seen everything from cancer, to AIDS, to things I can't pronounce. It is ALWAYS hard to see someone suffering and dying, regardless of how many you've seen. As a professional you don't learn to "get used to it" you learn to "separate yourself from your feelings" for the benefit of your patients. If I walked into a persons room crying and whimpering they would probably be terrified. You do learn better control over your emotions, but it does still get to you. I've run back to my office before because I felt I was getting too emotional (especially when children are involved). On the plus side, it helps you to realize that death is natural. I think it's better to see it since it makes it more real. People in health professions, in my opinion, need to be familiar with death since it is part of life. In my experience, at least, it never gets easy.