quit my job

[zzxxee]

so here it is in a nutshell have had a job on a childrens cancer ward for a few weeks, today found a little boy age two dead , his mum had been told it would be a few hours and was asleep in the chair next to him.
i have worked in care for years but this has beaten me emotionally i thought i would be strong enough to cope with situations like this but not so. Have told my ward manager i cant go back. There are some people who can do this and i admire them but, im just not strong enough. Having a few days out and going back to care for the elderly. Yes it is not nice when they pass on, but at the end of 90 plus years you accept it. I cannot comprehend a 2 year old being taken by such a cruel disease

[redman41]

I sympathise zzxxee as it must be very hard to cope at times, but think of the comfort you can bring to those who survive and help them live a little longer perhaps.
Rowan was an Intensive Care Nurse for several Years and a very good one, she must have seen some harrowing sights at times, but she brought comfort to many a sufferer and their Families.
I know this kind of work is not for everyone, but think again and try and carry on with your good work at the Hospital.

[milly143]

So sorry to hear that Zzxxee. It must have been heart breaking. I have admiration for people do any kind of care work, whether it be for children or the elderly. I hope you don't feel hard on yourself for the decision, in taking up the job in the first place you have already done what most of us wouldn't have the courage or selflessness to do. I hope you're ok.

[Jemisa]

zzxxee, You poor thing that must have been awful for you I can understand your actions.Its a mental picture you'll have for a long time I expect. Don't come out of the care business for good though we need people like you who are caring and compassionate.
You take care too.

jem

[squarebear]

You quit? I thought you'd only been there a week or so?

[redcrx]

i know i could never deal with that sort of thing zzxxee so admire you for being able to make the decision to leave.
Im just sat here now, thinking how the nicest and most innocent of people have such Sugar to deal with in life and your post has tipped me over the edge. Too many sad stories around at the moment :(

[squarebear]

Sory if I sounded short. It's certainly not a career path I would have chosen to follow. I can fully understand why you wouldn't want to see such sights.

[lesblue]

Didn't you expect to have to deal with this sort of thing when you took the job?

[Barmaid]

Les - zzxxee did say that she thought she would be strong enough to deal with situations like this, so clearly she had considered it. Harsh reality can be quite different though.

Sorry to hear that you feel like this zzxxee - I know how excited you were about the job. Big hugs.

[mccfluff]

bloody hell that must be rough :-(

[WELSHYORKIE]

Zzxxee, as a member of a family who have lost a loved one to cancer, can I please appeal to you to try and stick with it. I know it must be very hard for you but think of the bereaved parents and how much you could help them cope in the immediate aftermath of their loss. It is dedicated people like yourself who help families through the tough times that are desperately needed. Please reconsider..........

[ljdksa]

I agree entirely. I have spent twelve years working with the elderly and, as you said, it is upsetting when they die, but also not unnatural. I worked with children with disabilities at one time, and also left when a 7-yr-old died. He was the same age as my oldest son. It was just heart-breaking and so unfair on him. I hope you are ok x

[zzxxee]

of course i knew i would have to deal with this sort of thing as i have said, i have dealt with death in my 10 years plus caring for the elderly. But having never seen a dead child before it really took its toll, i think someone better suited to the role would be better for the families suffering, the ordeal. It just has given me a reality check that its not for me, i have somewhere to go to work in around a week, i was offered this the same time as the hospital job ,and they kept it open for me. I dont think its fair on the families to not offer "quality" empathy they deserve when im not up to it myself.

[joannie10]

good on you for trying, it must be really tough now but you have been strong enough to admit it is not for you. My sister worked for a while in a childs psychiatric ward which of course is very different but she just could not admit that she could not deal with it and ended up having a break down herself. Continue to do your good job caring for the elderly. If you continue to struggle with this (ie it keeps playing on your mind) don't be afraid to ask for help. No-one can imagine what it was like for you personally x

[WELSHYORKIE]

Zzxxee, I respect your decision and hope you are ok. Big hugs from N Wales.

[Mamyalynne]

zzxxee my heart goes out to you and all those who work in situations like this, can you not take a couple of days to rethink and see if indeed you could return to give the care you so obviously have?
No one expects carers not to be moved, indeed in my situation it helped me to see those around me as moved as myself.
If a move back to care for the elderly, then so be it, make the right choice and take good care.

[Mamyalynne]

Sorry zzxxee am a slow typist so missed your answer, if you are decided then I wish you well in your new venture and as said above, you tried my love.

Mamya

[zzxxee]

it has opened my eyes just to how much families with children with cancer go through, they are the bravest, strongest people, and the children are just angels on earth so strong !!

[bednobs]

it sounds like you went into it thinking you wouldn't be able to cope - after all you have asked another job to be kept open for you. I'm really surprised they aren't making you give notice tbh. I guess that kind of job iis for some people and not for others

[milly143]

Just seen this post on my brothers facebook page and thought I would share it.

"There are few things worse than a children's hospital. The staff are amazing."

[zzxxee]

i didnt ask them to keep the job open bednobs they kept it open, for a while as i had worked their previously on agency. I didnt have to give notice as a contract had not been signed yet