fear of dead people

rn/writer, RN · Feb 12, 2009

Are you afraid of death yourself? Or are you afraid of what you will see?

The first choice is a little harder to resolve and may involve some counseling.

The second, however, is more a matter of exposure. The unknown is often so much scarier than the reality. I wonder if you could confide in your instructor and ask for ideas. You might be able, with assistance, to visit a hospital morgue or a medical examiner's office and actually view deceased people when you're not under pressure to perform. Sometimes that is enough to dispel the fear.

Depending on where you end up working, you may not run into this all that often. Whether you do or not, I commend you for acknowledging your fear and wanting to face it.

Best wishes.

yousoldtheworld · Feb 12, 2009

Well, I'll just say that I think EVERYONE is afraid to be around dead bodies at first.

However, give yourself a chance. Don't psyche yourself out.

I too was really nervous about that part...but you know what? It's really not that bad.

It's strange and sad, sure. But there's something really moving about it, too...if it's someone you've cared for, it feels kind of like an honor to have that little bit of time to say goodbye and to provide them with that final dignity.

When you start working, if you have a death, ask to be allowed to watch your first time. I think you'll be surprised, it's not as bad as you expect it will be.

Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 12, 2009

I read a thread on this not too long ago here in the CNA forum. There was lots of advice there. I'll find it...

CNA & Post Mortem Care - Mandatory

Hope this is helpful.

Dondie

BuddahNature · Feb 13, 2009

Y0u know one reason I feel the average person is afraid of dead people are wrapped up in several reasons.Perhaps some of them apply to you. For instance,was your first exposure to seeing someone dead was at a funeral,and in a coffin? If this is the case,then I am sure that left a lasting and negative impression upon upon you. I was fortunate enough to see someone after death under more natural circumstances. My first brush with death was seeing my grandmother who died at home,soon after she died. I was all of 8 years old,when I saw my grandmother, (who went into cardiac arrest at home), lying peaceful and serene in her bed,under pastel sheets waiting to be transported from home . She was my grandmother,and she still looked no different,just appeared asleep. A sleep, I knew she would never awaken from though. I transferred my feelings of how natural people look in death,over when I started in nursing. My grandmother's death at home,in a natural setting had prepared me. When my patients die, I realize it is all apart of the ebb and flow of life. I was not around them all their life,but I too feel it was an honor to take care of them,when they were in their physical form,and provide them with comfort via my nursing skills. Now that they have made their transition,it feels for me that I am still apart of helping them complete the circle of life. My feelings are humans are involved with assisting each other both cycles of birth and death. Keep in mind this may be the same person whose hand you recently held,or brow you just wiped. Life and death are really something to marvel at,when you think about it.

ctmed · Feb 13, 2009

As the above posters have mentioned, with exposure the "freakiness" of being

around deceased patients or having to do after-death care passes. Just like now

I can talk about diaper checks, stage 4 decubitus, and dressing changes while eating

and not even flinch. I couldn't do that when I first started. I guess gradually it

just became part of a job.

I will say this, however. I still feel a bit down if it was a patient I liked or got to

know real well. But, that is normal.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Feb 13, 2009

You should never have to do post-mortem care alone, if that makes you feel any better.

medfieldgal · Feb 17, 2009

I am worried about the exact same thing. I am hoping that after a while I will get used to it. (I HOPE). Does anyone think that it is easier in any particular specialty?

poppalina · Feb 17, 2009

Hi I had the same problem. Don't do it by yourself. Find another CNA or RN to go in with you. I left alot of nights crying if they were frequent flyers but you learn to deal with it. Try to seperate yourself as much as possible....and good luck!

mochabean · Feb 17, 2009

I don't have any advice except to say if you're not comfortable doing it, then you should tell someone. The deceased person is physically still in the room, but they're like empty vessels. Don't be afraid of the dead- be afraid of the living.