End of Life

[WakingLife]

I feel like in ICU we deal with this issue frequently but I don't see very much about it on the discussion board...Just curious about end of life issues. When family decides to withdraw care, what are the common orders that you see for comfort care? Morpine? Propofol? Do you feel that everything usually works out and the patients are not in pain? After extubation is end of life pretty quick? What are your feelings on "comfort care"?

[mistyeye]

I am once exposed at the ICU during our clinical duty and i cant stand looking at the pt dying.Most especially the families.The outpouring of emotions and shed of tears made me cry too.Is it ok that i emphatize,does it help them?These are the questions raised on my mind.I know its a tough job to be an ICU Nurse but this lead to a lot of learnings and experience.Do you think i can overcome this emotions and be a better ICU Nurse?Those stories and realities touched me a lot since i had experienced loosing a loved ones many times.

[Dinith88]

As a spin off...

I think it's more difficult to deal with grieving(sp?) families in crisis mode...(especially w/unexpected/unwanted/unprepared death) than with anything else. Any experienced ICU nurse can share stories of how she/he monitored a too-young corpse (brain-dead, ventilated, pressors maxed-out(hear still betating)), etc.)...,witnessing weepy family-turmoil for three 12 hour shifts in a row or longer as family debates pulling the plug...etc,

That stuff sucks and can really sap you. ICU nurses need raises...

[Dinith88]

As a spin off...

, pressors maxed-out(hear still betating)),...

LOL! i meant 'heart still beating'