Any advice on caring for dying and family?

[Teachchildren123]

Hi everyone!

Any special thoughts on caring for the dying and family. If you were face with death in your own life, how would you have wish the nurses and mds acts with you.

I am collecting ideas for my new bereavement commitee. Any suggestions? How does it happens in your hospital, institution? Any panphlets, guides...

Thanks for sharing!

[DebbieP]

that was a good post Leslie. Im sure that youve helped a lot of people.

I agree...that was a great post.The question I have after reading that though is When you asked the family to leave and come back in the am and your pt passed 15min after they left.Wouldn't the family be angry at you thinking they could have been there for him if you didn't ask them to leave?If that was the case how would you handle that?

Debbie

[leslie :-D]

I agree...that was a great post.The question I have after reading that though is When you asked the family to leave and come back in the am and your pt passed 15min after they left.Wouldn't the family be angry at you thinking they could have been there for him if you didn't ask them to leave?If that was the case how would you handle that?

Debbie

hi debbie,

actually i did call the family after he passed and explained to them that often a dying patient often waits until the family leaves as their perception is that them dying in front of the family is a burden; something they don't want.

and this is often quite the case.

ultimately i asked the family to leave is because i could see my pt becoming anxious, and w/my experience in hospice, that is often a sign of them getting ready to leave but do not want to w/family there. the family understood and took it fine. i assured them i was w/him and he went ever so peacefully.

leslie

[DebbieP]

hi debbie,

actually i did call the family after he passed and explained to them that often a dying patient often waits until the family leaves as their perception is that them dying in front of the family is a burden; something they don't want.

and this is often quite the case.

ultimately i asked the family to leave is because i could see my pt becoming anxious, and w/my experience in hospice, that is often a sign of them getting ready to leave but do not want to w/family there. the family understood and took it fine. i assured them i was w/him and he went ever so peacefully.

leslie

Thanks for your reply Leslie.I have another question for you.I hope you can help.I have been out of nursing for a number of years now and will be taking the nursing refresher soon.I am hoping to do my clinival in pallaitive care.I'm just wondering what advice you could give me to prepare for work as a pallaitive nurse.Or anything I can do that could help me get my foot in the door?Any feedback would be helpful

[leslie :-D]

Thanks for your reply Leslie.I have another question for you.I hope you can help.I have been out of nursing for a number of years now and will be taking the nursing refresher soon.I am hoping to do my clinival in pallaitive care.I'm just wondering what advice you could give me to prepare for work as a pallaitive nurse.Or anything I can do that could help me get my foot in the door?Any feedback would be helpful

that's wonderful you want to enter hospice/palliative care.

and yes, a nsg refresher course would definitely benefit you.

since most hospice nursing is out-pt., i.e., in the pt's home, you could call your local vna or find some hospice's in your area, and ask if you could shadow them.....mind you, you probably would not get paid for this but would expose you to what hospice nurses do.

once you feel comfortable/confident in your abilities, then you can apply. don't give up.

but again, i would suggest shadowing a hospice nurse- call up the facility/agcy and speak w/the supervisor- ask for an appt to meet w/her; i think it's very important to meet face to face. then explain your situation; tell her you've completed the nurse refresher course; why you're so interested in hospice and ask if you could shadow one of their nurses.

it would be even better if it's a facility/agcy that is looking for hospice nurses but you needn't limit yourself to only those that have openings. once you've shadowed and feel comfortable, then you can apply to where they're advertising for hospice nurses and can put on your resume, that you shadowed a nurse for x amt of time. good luck to you debbie. my instincts tell me you'll do beautifully.

leslie

[DebbieP]

Thanks for all your help and encouragement!

Debbie