Hello. Throwaway account here.
I work as a dental microsurgery nurse (basically implants, complicated extraction etc). 3 weeks ago, had tumour removal and hand reconstruction surgery. My boss asked me to go back to work since my coworker took a month off as her dad died and is overseas. Everything was okay until i realised disposable gloves rubbing on top of my surgical wound is nasty, and a patient accidentally hit my stitches sent my whole body into pain.
I told my boss/dentist about and the only response i got was “you’ll be okay, sometimes we just have to suck it up”.
I told his wife who’s the practice manager managed to talk to him and she said i can rest for a bit but at the end of the day, he’s still the one calling the shots. I appreciate her concern but she really cant do much.
When my pet died, the dentist really wanted me to work even though he can clearly see i was bawling my eyes out while doing surgery. I confronted the wife and said i cant do this i can’t concentrate on the surgery. She talked to him but the best compromise was me working at the steri room in the background. She gave me some of my favourite snacks to comfort me and checked on me every hour.
Fast forward now, i feel like quitting on the spot but i feel really guilty as there is no one to help the other nurse, my other coworker still overseas, the wife is really nice to me. I have a medical certificate saying im unfit to work but he’s insisting i should come in because i worked on some other days anyway. I was thinking he would understand because he’s a doctor.
English not my first language. I don’t know i guess i just need advice and to rant as well. I told my therapist and she described it as burn out. I was really suicidal yesterday.