Any one else have this happen?

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yesterday I was at my clinical site and I got an opportunity to observe another unit. My instructor walked me down and was telling all these facts about what kind of things I would see and what I was allowed to help with or not help with. I was really excited because this hospital has this and not all the students in my cohort will get this opportunity.

When we arrived, the night nurse was giving report and told my instructor, that this pt is very ill, is she sure she wants a student paired with them. The day nurse said she was ok, I said I was ok, so I started my day with learning about the pt and the history.

At one point in the morning, my nurse tells me that she is worried that we might be doing post mortem care today. At this point, pt was stable, but not in great condition. Sure enough, pt starts to have a dip in VS. Nurse gets pt back to a stable condition. Now, I start to notice how many people have started to come around asking if we need help. Several nurses came in while stabilizing to make sure all was really ok.

Pt was stable for a while and then VS start dropping again. This time a code is called. I have never see a code first hand, so it was a bit overwhelming to me. 45 mins later, heaven gained another soul.

I helped my nurse with post mortem care. My instructor came to check on me at this point. She was upset that she picked someone so sick for me to observe. She asked me if I wanted to go home early. I told her I would finish my shift and we could talk about what happened with my group at the post clinical hour. We did and my instructor was helpful when she talked with me about it privately to make sure I was ok with what I had witnessed.

This was the hardest day I've had. I witnessed some really amazing nursing skills and nurses, but losing our pt was really hard. My nurse spent a lot of time talking to me after about it and I feel like that helped a lot. I know I am grieving for this pt even though I only knew them for one day. Anyone else ever witness anything like this at clinical?

[amoLucia]

Pt was stable for a while and then VS start dropping again. This time a code is called. I have never see a code first hand, so it was a bit overwhelming to me. 45 mins later, heaven gained another soul.

I like that phrase. Shows sensitivity for a situation that happens all too freq.

A first time experience of watching an unsuccessful code with the resultant post- mortem care is a significant event, esp for a SN or GN. Have been there, and done that - only as the clinical instructor as I was side by side with my student. Was TOTALLY, TOTALLY unexpected of her assigned pt.

My student and I were both caught off-guard, but I'd experienced such situations before. Now my student was rattled, but she was helped right then & there by the facility chaplain who responded to the code.

I have found facility ministry staff to be exceptionally helpful for staff and family during such stresses.

My appreciation & thanks to them.

[NurseEmmy]

I think it serves students well to work with a patient who dies. It is a fact of life and it teaches you appropriate responses to sometimes VERY upsetting, unexpected, and daily occurrences.

I had my first patient die during my externship of LPN school. I took a lot away from it. It was a loved resident in a LTC facility. The staff was heartbroken, but showed me how to handle the body appropriately, who to contact, etc. I was able to remain objective as I barely knew the patient so I contacted the family (who couldn't have cared less), the doctor, funeral home, etc.

I'm surprised your instructor was so upset. It was a great learning experience for you as well.