Well, I had my first death to contend with on Monday. I went to work at 7p, was passing my pills and when I got to this lady's door, I heard her talking. Now, it wasn't that she was really talking, but I heard her voice, but couldn't understand what she was saying, so I peeked in and I saw her foot twitch a bit, so I thought she was dreaming (the curtain was pulled and I could only see her foot at this time).
when I finished drawing up her insulin, I took her medicine and went in to her. I found her completely unresponsive and her coloring was a gray, ashy look. She had deep abdominal breathing with periods of apnea in between. Not long periods, but enough that you notice.
I went and got the other nurse who was on duty with me, and she came and told me that the lady, my patient was breathing her last breaths...but she said to go call the doctor and let him know. By the time I came from calling the answering service, the other nurse told me that my patient was gone. She passed at 8:50p that night.
It was quite a shock to witness, I'll admit, but I htink I handled it alright.
I called her family, couldn't get ahold of them, so I called the funeral home about 11p to come and get her body.
Her son returned my phone call at 1:20a.
I hated telling him that his mother had passed away 4 hours before.
Such a sad, sad situation......:stone