ADVERTISEMENT

Working in healthcare can be extremely stressful. The demands of the job, limited resources, long hours, big expectations, lack of support, and gruesome experiences leave their mark.

Content creator ‘Tribe Nursing,’ an emergency room nurse, recently went viral online. He asked doctors, nurses, EMTs, and other healthcare workers to share all the things that they’re refusing to do or buy because of the traumatic things they’ve seen while on the job. You’ll find their insights and stories below.

#1

Healthcare worker providing neck therapy to patient, demonstrating care and techniques seen in medical settings. CHIROPRACTORS! People need to know that the person who started it was a con man😭

whooptydoooda , prostooleh / freepik (not the actual photo) Report

Huddo's sister
Community Member
19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a spate of deaths of babies in Australia from chiropractic 'adjustments' which led to them being banned from practicing on children under two in 2019. This temporary ban was lifted in 2023 and then reinstated in 2024.

View more comments
RELATED:
    #2

    Dog resting inside a pet crate with a cushion, illustrating healthcare workers' reflections after what they have seen in care settings. Former EMT, I refuse to not have my dog secured in the car, for her safety and mine. She rides in a crash-tested crate.

    🐶🏒🩺🚑 Report

    kaycee14
    Community Member
    13 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine always wear a harness, with a tether that clicks into the seatbelt latch.

    View more comments
    #3

    Hair down near machinery or fast moving parts. Seen a lady get her scalp removed from her long hair getting caught in machinery at work.

    Jen Report

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    17 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Metal lathes especially. They have great momentum and spin far faster than human reaction time. Do not look up 'degloving.'

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    According to one study, depression, burnout, and stress are extremely prevalent among emergency department (ED) physicians. Between 15.5% to 19.3% of ED workers were found to have depression, 18% to 71.4% dealt with burnout, and 19.5% to 22.7% experienced stress.

    These factors led to lower job satisfaction, less compassion satisfaction, less life satisfaction, and higher intentions to quit emergency medicine. In other words, the stress of the job has profoundly negative impacts on these workers’ private and professional lives.

    #4

    Fireworks

    Tony Stark Report

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    16 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Age 6, 4th of July, brand new neighborhood, hiding in the bushes, we watched our drunk new neighbor, beer in one hand, cigarette in mouth, light an original M80 in his other hand with the cigarette in his mouth, fumble and recover the beer, and then realize he still needed to throw the M80. I'm pretty sure we watched him blow off a few fingers, but we ran like we'd just sent a baseball through a plate glass window and 'didn't go over there no more.'

    View more comments
    #5

    Close-up of colorful translucent balls held in a hand, illustrating healthcare workers' reflections after what they have seen. Orbeez, small magnets and pill batteries

    Jojo , stockfoo / freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Button batteries are super dangerous for little kids who put things in their mouth. Many have died from it - they start burning the esophagus as soon as they get swallowed.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Man in a white shirt holding his stomach in pain, illustrating healthcare workers' experiences and challenges seen firsthand. I’ll never look at alcohol the same after seeing end stage alcoholic liver cirrhosis. I’ve cut it completely out of my life.

    knippleknorple , yakobchuk / freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    17 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I worked in a mental ward and we had a patient who lived in full-on delirium tremens. Watch that for a bit and you lose all interest in exploring that end of alcohol use. Imagine an old Vincent Price style horror film where one of the victims is driven beyond exhaustion by fear and terror, to the edge of breaking down, and getting stuck there, shaking, shivering, gibbering at things nobody could see, moment after moment, day after day...

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Meanwhile, another study found that the key sources of stress and distress for general practitioners (GPs) are related to emotion work, practice culture, and work role and demands.

    Namely, GPs are required to manage and respond to violent or confrontational patients. They also have to deal with collegial conflict, bullying, isolation, and a lack of support in the workplace. And they have to worry about making potential mistakes, complaints, appraisals, inspections, and their finances.

    #7

    Feet on dash, not wearing my seatbelt, tanning beds

    Michaellouiss Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All at the same time? Yeah, that's risky.

    View more comments
    #8

    3rd year psych resident…..I will never use chat gpt due to the amount of psychosis episodes I’ve seen it induce in many patients 😭 very random but it’s scary!!

    stanze Report

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have heard so many bad stories about people who used it as a therapist!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Texting while driving

    Connie 🌸 Report

    TheGreaterDebater
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    God these people need to burn in hell. I honk obnoxiously loud every time I see these f*****g bastards. Scums of the road.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Do we have any Pandas working in healthcare in the audience with us today? What are some of the biggest challenges and daily sources of stress for you at work?

    What have been the most traumatic things that you’ve personally witnessed, and how has that affected your habits and purchases? If you feel like sharing, feel free to do so in the comments at the bottom of this post.

    #10

    those damn electric scooters

    Kayla Report

    Fred
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In the UK it's a requirement that one be pedalling an electric bike for the motor to be activated, and that powered assistance cease when the speed reaches 25 km/h. Otherwise the thing counts as a moped and has to be taxed and insured. One is not allowed to ride electric scooters on a public road, though people do it all the time, sometimes at alarming speeds.

    View more comments
    #11

    Healthcare worker resting peacefully with a baby, reflecting on things healthcare workers say they will never do after experience. cosleeping. i don’t bash moms who do it but me? seen too much.

    angel💙 , Leighann Blackwood / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Lukas (he/him, it/its)
    Community Member
    Premium
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't it associated with a higher risk of SIDS? As well as the risk of overlaying- I wouldn't ever risk it.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #12

    I’ll never push someone in a pool.

    Jamie716 Report

    UnclePanda
    Community Member
    Premium
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What if they really, really need to upgrade their phone?

    View more comments
    #13

    Not wearing a helmet

    Lexie Report

    CP
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am on the toilet. I don't think the risk warrants wearing one.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #14

    Hand holding a gray retractable leash against a plain blue background, symbolizing control and care in healthcare workers’ experiences. i’m a vet assistant in tech school and a retractable leash for a dog

    ashlee , freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    kikinlivi
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've used them for years. No issues. It never even occurred to me that there could be an issue. Even now, hearing this, I can't picture what might happen with one of these that might not happen just as well with a short piece of rope and lack of common sense/ coordination.

    View more comments
    #15

    NEVER DRIVING DRUNK the amount of sad situations and bad traumas I’ve seen...

    Katelynn Smith Report

    Chich the witch
    Community Member
    Premium
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Drunks should be sent to ride along with an ambulance or FD. "Here, put these gloves on and pick that /those up" Probably wouldn't work on half the useless f***s, but I can dream.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #16

    At this point, pretty much everything

    Casey Kuvaas Report

    martymcmatrix
    Community Member
    8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And simply stop breathing wouldn't change anything about it...🙋🏽

    #17

    Watching kids on quad bikes without helmets 🥺

    Mad bin Report

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even with helmets and roll bars, kids have died. There is no reason I can see for kids to be using them at all.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #19

    high heels 😭

    Raquel 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Report

    Crystalwitch60
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing wrong with em lol wore em from age 14 till I couldn’t anymore loved them could even run in them !

    View more comments
    #20

    Steak off a grill cleaned with a wire brush… not a trauma but seeing how close that wire got to his carotid through his throat 😳

    taserprincesss Report

    Otto Katz
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They just should be allowed to sell those brushes. They can't sell Kinder eggs in the US, why are they allowed to sell wire brushes?

    View more comments
    #21

    Never forget your safety glasses when doing DIY and pruning ,etc. It's not just for work.

    MiaRose Report

    CP
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wear ear protection whenever I hammer nails.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #22

    I will NEVER walk multiple dogs on the same hand.

    SB🍒🐆🎱 Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    4 hours ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have quite large hands but they're definitely not big enough for one dog to walk on, let alone several. I let my dog walk on the ground.

    View more comments
    #23

    Single engine aerobatic planes (Doctor Killers). Seen two crashes in my lifetime.

    Reaper Report

    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it the number of engines or the instant catastrophic deceleration?

    View more comments
    #24

    Healthcare workers wearing socks with sandals standing on a grey carpet, reflecting on things they will never do. Flip flops 😳 damage done by flip flops on escalators 🫣

    eibbedeizneb , Ivana Cajina / Unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

    Coralinea
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm on escalators maybe three times a year. Yes that combo gives me shivers, but avoiding escalators is way easier in my case.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #25

    Home births…as a nicu nurse

    Avery Report

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This depends on the regulations in place. What is really dangerous is these 'free births' influencers are promoting where women see no one during pregnancy and either give birth alone or with an untrained person in attendance.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #26

    Mandoline slicer with interchangeable blades on a black surface highlighting sharp kitchen tools healthcare workers avoid using. Why is nobody talking about mandolines🫢

    Maddie.xo , Beeblebrox / Wikipedia (not the actual photo) Report

    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    Premium
    22 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get anxiety just watching chefs on tv use them.

    View more comments
    #27

    ceramic wax burners, I never listened to the warning then I fell asleep on the sofa after lightning one in the kitchen. fire alarm woke me. it had exploded and the fire was already pretty big.

    Thecraftyclaire Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #28

    Refuse to use a tall ladder

    Dancon2112 Report

    CP
    Community Member
    7 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do the same thing! I stack a bunch of short ladders to make it safer. Da dum tis...

    View more comments
    #29

    Colorful balloons clustered together representing healthcare workers reflecting on things they will never do after experience. Balloons and orbeez are not allowed in my house

    TheStephFromEh , rawpixel.com / freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    Lady Eowyn
    Community Member
    5 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had to look up orbeez: Expandable water toys (also grow-in-water toys or grow monsters) are novelty items made from a superabsorbent polymer. They are toys that expand after putting them into water for anything from a few hours up to several days, depending on size. They shrink in saltwater or when exposed to air. They are made from polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to their own mass.[1]

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #30

    Close-up of a styrofoam block in a brown tray, highlighting healthcare workers' concerns about single-use materials. Anything Styrofoam

    Bez , norgal / freepik (not the actual photo) Report

    Chich the witch
    Community Member
    Premium
    12 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dissolve it in gas, smear it all over yourself and light it up?? Just have to use your imagination I guess :p

    View more comments

    Note: this post originally had 64 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

    ADVERTISEMENT