A Sad Week

[mattsmom81]

Some patient situations just get to us and shake our emotions.

This past week lost 2 patients and I'm still troubled.

A teen male who developed endocarditis, vegetative emboli everywhere including brain...and stroked out. Sick with the flu 2 days at home...then went unresponsive on parents who are in shock and blaming themselves.

Also a woman admitted for fever, chills...suspected sepsis with multisystem response. Her temp soared to 108 and she was brain dead before we could intervene or even diagnose the cause...all tests NEG (including ct, blood cultures, LP, xrays) so far...awaiting some reason for this poor lady's tragedy. The docs are shaken...and stumped. Hard to tell loved ones "we don't know why but she is gone."

Humans are so fragile at times...aren't they. Just needed to share my sadness a minute with others who understand. I was present when we took them both off the vent and allowed them to go.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

(((((mattsmom81)))))

These are the kinds of things we just have to put in God's hands, because they certainly don't make sense to our mortal minds. So sorry for your losses.......we all have to deal with patients' deaths, but some hit us harder than others, and these two must have been shocking!

If you can, try to take a day or two off so you can process what has happened.....maybe a staff debriefing session would be in order too.

God bless,

Marla

[redshiloh]

Please let us know if they figure out what caused the lady's sepsis.

[Brownms46]

((((((((((mattsmom)))))))))) Wow that is really a very sad week! Wish I had something to say or do, that would help you get thru this! But speaking from some experience with losing someone who you wish you could've help save, if a stressful and distressing thing indeed. I will say a prayer for you right now, and hopefully you will receive the peace that passes all understanding:kiss

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

Too sad for sure.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Oh Mattsmom... first off, BIG, WARM hugs to you !!! ((( )))

How well I DO understand, for here, too, I have been experiencing the same. Just lost another one of ours, and one who was least expected... came to us a little over a year ago...also was the most jolly, mischievous sort, and whose love of life in general was expressed in his hearty laughter along with everything else he did. At 70 something, you would have guessed him in his fifties. One of those who grows on you REAL QUICK, and his laughter will conitinue to resonnate and his antics be sorely missed by staff and his fellow dialysis friends alike...

Another kind and gentle soul is our amputee patient on dialysis... he was so hoping to be fitted for a prosthesis last week... instead they took his other leg and removed even more from what little was left of the first.... :o

He's due back tomorrow and according to family is deeply disturbed by the new course of events.... oh, how I dread going in tomorrow and seeing all the hope wiped completely off his usually smiling face... and seeing nothing but anguish and pain.

Yes. It IS hard. Yes, we DO hurt with and for them.. and for ourselves for having to bear the pain along with them.

I understand. We ALL understand. I dare say there's not a one here who has not felt what you are feeling this week. And we CARE about your hurting. We wish you peace of mind and spirit. :kiss

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Thanks for sharing and big hugs.

[NurseSDP]

((((hugs))))

It is such a painful thing to lose patients, particularly when there is no "good" answer for it. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

MattsMom - thanks for sharing and I hope the coming weeks are brighter - times like this we really need to share and often we don't share enough with those we work with to help us through our own feelings of helplessness. ((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

When you find out what happened to your lady - ask the doctors if they would mind doing a presentation on the case as this will help you all over the feeling of "could we have done more" the doctors included!!! They too will be feeling the guilt that comes with the feeling of powerlessness in situations like this.

It is always dificult when we cannot intervene to stop a stituation like this.

Jnette ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) to you too!!!

One of the wonderful things about working dialysis is that the patients become freinds. This also has a downside in that when something bad happens to one of your special people it hits particularly hard. But I am sure you would not want it any other way.

[Noney]

(((((HUGS))))))))))

Life is hard at times isn't it.

Noney

[mattsmom81]

Thank you everyone. One of the repercussions of HIPPA is we are often fearful of discussing cases in the hospital now.

I know we could not prevent the embolization, but I do suspect this child was ill for sometime and did not tell his parents...perhaps outreach programs will do the best good here. School nurses tell kids to tell their parents whenever they are sick...don't tough it out alone.

I will ask our ICU docs about putting a successive hyperthermia protocol in place...perhaps if we could have controlled that high temp immediately we may have bought some time to find and treat the cause.

I am watching still for labs as they come back...we sent out labs I've never even heard of before.....so far all neg but some still pending. I'll share if I can when I find out anything helpful.

Thanks for all your empathy and hugs guys and gals. This is a tough job sometimes isn't it. (((HUGS))) back at ya.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Mattsmom, I am so sorry for your pain on the loss of these patients. But, this is why you are a great nurse, YOU care. Please take advantage of any counselling your facility has to offer. I will keep you in my prayers.