Dealing with death

[redtshirt]

How do you deal with patients deaths? Its not as easy or simple as leaving your work at the hospital door. Any advice?

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

You might find some helpful information that others have shared in the staff blog entitled Nurses Coping with Personal Grief

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

How do you deal with patients deaths? Its not as easy or simple as leaving your work at the hospital door. Any advice?

To some people it can be that easy. I was wondering how I would act after my first patient passed and found it didnt bother me much if at all. I do however have healthy outlets to help get away from work when I get home such as working out or just hanging out with my gf/friends and not thinking about anything nursing.

[Coriander, BSN, RN]

I worked in a LTC facility for several months. I became very attached to my residents, and was heartbroken when the first one passed away. The first one, I found, was the hardest. The few others that passed away while I was there were still cared about of course, but that first one was the toughest.

I would take the time and go outside for a few minutes, or if I didn't have the opportunity, I would quietly say a few words in private.

Families would often call in and thank us for taking care of their loved one, which also was very helpful.

[MegoEgo]

Kind of random, but when my grandmother passed away, she was in hospice care. After she passed, several nurses came in and were crying because they heard the news and were saying how sweet and lovely she was. We had to comfort one nurse. She was so touched by my grandmother in the short time she knew her. It just kind of reiterated what I already knew - that she was a special lady.

Anyway, I can just imagine it will be hard when I experience the first death of a patient of mine.