How do you feel about patient's deaths?

stella123 rn · May 27, 2003

I remember my first death. I actually handled it better than I thought I would. I watched the woman take her last few breaths and held her hand. She was a no CPR obviously. She has progressive fibrocystic lungs. She declined quickly in a few days. Hew family was all out of state and could no be there. It was important for me to be with her. I remember telling myself that I was going to slow down and take more time with the patients not matter how busy I was. I might be the last person they see.

I am not sure how I would handle an unexpected death though, or young people. I think that I would very emotional. I would not know what to say to the families.

RN always, BSN, RN · May 27, 2003

I always feel like it is an honor to be with someone during that transition of their life. If I have a patient (DNR) that is near death, I find I am always drawn to that room no matter how busy I am. I just don't ever want a person to die alone so I always try to be there. It is peaceful. At first I was a little scared but not anymore.

itsme · May 27, 2003

I too feel that no one should die alone, or in the dark, I always try to leave a night light on. As for the question of how do I feel when a pt dies, well, that depends. If they are old and suffering and in pain, its kind of a blessing, if they are in the prime of there life or a child, or an accident, homicide, anything like that it is not a blessing, it is a tragedy.

Zinnia · May 27, 2003

In my ICCU ,we see death. Like you have said,sometimes it is a good thing. We can do so much to keep a person alive now,but should we? Once the family gets the 'Big picture' they usually see that it is the right thing..to take them off the vent,etc.

CraftyLPN · May 27, 2003

I work in HH w/ peds...Of the few I have experienced... it's hard.. the family is like an extension of your own..You work closely w/ family and of course, the pt.

But yet, if these lil guys don't have a good prognosis from whatever has afflicted them...They become one of "god's sacred angels..."

GAstudent · May 28, 2003

I think that you put that in a good way.. You have learned how to cope and handle death. and I think that the last stage is acceptance. And you can't Accept until you have denied and forgave. I think that you put it well.. I did not learn to cope until my grandmother died. I was in my CNA class and we was on our last chapter Which was dealing with death. I had just left the hospital and when the teacher was going over the chapter i started to cry and a few classmates started to cry. My teacher told me that I could leave and I said no I need to stay. When i left class i called home and found out that my grandmother died. She had died just 15 minutes before...while i was crying in class. I think that helped a lot. I am going to print what you said..Thanks..I am going to hang it up at work if you don't mind. I work in LTC and sometimes we need that when a pt dies.

atownsendrn · May 28, 2003

Working in the ER death comes in many forms. The patient that comes in as a DNR, the teenager from a horrible car wreck, the 40 y.o. having a massive MI, the SIDS baby. Each death envokes a different feeling. It is hard the describe. I wish I could put it into words.

moz · May 28, 2003

I work OB and my first encounters with death and babies was hard to deal with. Not that its easy, but its easier now that I know I can help the families cope and grieve and create special remembrances for them. It was also easier after I had a miscarriage. I know that doesn't really compare, but I've learned its not how long you've loved someone, but how much.

tattooednursie, LVN · May 28, 2003

I abslolutley hate it when patients die alone. Especially when it is an expected death, and evertyone knows that any breath could be their last. Usually some one gets called in to sit with a dying patient. I think that is very awesome.