parent's question

[missNV]

how would you respond to a parent when they ask you if their baby is going to die? (you know that the baby is really going to die - severly compromised)

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Having been in the parents' shoes, but not in the nurse's, I would say to them something along this line: "We are doing everything we can for him, but it really does not look good, and we don't have a whole lot of hope left." This does not destroy their hopes however slim completely, but gives them the heads up that it probably will not turn out the way they want it to.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

I don't pretty it up. I've seen so many docs and nurses do that and then the parents are always so surprised when the baby takes a turn for the worse or dies.

I tell them that they may, they are very sick and that we are taking it day by day.One day at a time.

[CCU NRS]

The first two sound very good. I don't have to deal with new parents but I often have to tell family members that It is time to make any final arrangements.

I usually try to just tell them very gently that their loved one is not do ing well and the chances are slim that they will last much longer

[kitty29]

I have been asked this question, and generally it's after a review of status. In this case I knew the grandfather was religious, and so am I. I said: "Pray for the best and prepare for the worst", as he wanted to know how serious things were to support his daughter.

This was a little baby with herpes in the CSF....very rare(thank God) and almost always fatal.

As it turned out she did live, and is doing reasonably well too, her liver E. are getting better and better...she seems appropriate for age, but time will tell.

I never sugar coat things either.....I am factual, I always get the docs on service involved too.