[CNAWILKES]

Hey, I Just Had My First Death And Dying Experience, Cleaning A Body For The First Time And I Just Need Some Help Dealing, I Guess. Some Like Experiences, Ways Of Healing..i Can Still See The Body, I Can Still Smell The Smells, It's Only Been Two Days But It's Affecting Me Very Strongly And I Need Some Support. My Hardest Part Was Actually Seeing The Body Laying There And Knowing That There Was No Spirit Left In Him..write Back Someone...thanks!

[Kim O'Therapy]

Originally Posted by CNAWILKES

Hey, I Just Had My First Death And Dying Experience, Cleaning A Body For The First Time And I Just Need Some Help Dealing, I Guess. Some Like Experiences, Ways Of Healing..i Can Still See The Body, I Can Still Smell The Smells, It's Only Been Two Days But It's Affecting Me Very Strongly And I Need Some Support. My Hardest Part Was Actually Seeing The Body Laying There And Knowing That There Was No Spirit Left In Him..write Back Someone...thanks!

I promise it will get better. I found touching base with my spirituality was a big help. At first, I would come home and cry - then I realized I would be no good to the patients doing well if I wore myself out emotionally in regards to death. In my experiences, I was always relieved for the patient because he/she had been through so much physically - I felt they were in a better place. Take care and hang in there - these patients need us! Feel honored that the patient and family have entrusted you with end of life care.

[mm82]

I am an aide on an oncology floor as well. I had such a hard time dealing with death in the beginning. It takes time to adjust. I promise that it gets easier over time.

[moma325]

Try not to think so much about the death, but think more about the relief the patient and their family has.
I have been on the ONC floor for one year now with no previous experience in health care.
I personally love my job and my patients!
I have seen patients beg to die . It is a sad job , but the patients need some one to be there for them too. Not everyone is cut out to deal with this. Thats o.k.
The longer you work with it the easier it becomes. It helped me by getting the nurses to allow me to assist when possible and observe as much as I could . Not that I am into blood and gore as I am not!
Its just easier to see relief when you get to see that there is a lot of pain behind the scenes.I always was a firm believer in everyone should live at any cost. Working here on Oncology has changed my way of thinking. Some
people would definitely be better off passing on, because the suffering can sometimes be inhumane.