Too much sadness this shift...

[praying_mantis]

So tonight we heard the words "code blue, lobby gift shop." I ran down there, only to be directed to the parking lot, where and old man was being taken out of his car. No pulse, started CPR in the parking lot. Intubated him and got him to the ED where he was pronounced about 15 minutes later.

We didnt know anything about him, but he had a cell phone in his car, and an asthma inhaler clutched in his hand.

We found out later that he was here to visit his daughter, who is a pt on our unit. The daughter was just diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer today. The family came to tell her that her dad passed away on his way to see her.

After a while, I went in to check on the pt and sat on the bed with her....I told her that she was in everyones thoughts and prayers, and that I was with her dad when he passed. I didnt tell her that it was sad and scary. That we knew the code wasnt going to have a happy ending. That his ribs were crunching everytime we did compressions....that I cried when I took the crash cart back to the unit and saw that someone had thrown his jacket in the garbage can already......I told her that it was peaceful, and that there were so many nurses there that wanted to help him.

What a crappy night. We all have so much to be thanful for and dont even realize it.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

((((((praying mantis))))))))

My heart goes out to that suffering family.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Well, darn, that stinks.

[TypeA]

Sorry you had such a bad shift. This got me right in the gut.

[Christie RN2006]

Your post almost made me cry... and here I was complaining about how crappy my night was!!

I am definitely going to be praying for your pt!! I'm sure that was the worst day of her life, I am just glad you were there to help comfort her!

[sbyramRN]

Yeah, it stinks...I went into work the other night (I work in a pediatric ER) and noticed there was a red dot in one of my rooms. I asked what was going on, and I was told they were probably coding someone. I found out during report that there was a baby in there that had passed a couple of hours before, and the parents were still in saying good bye. It was hard..

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

You did really good by telling her what you did. I have never told a family member how bad it really was when their loved one died. There's no reason to do it.

I'm sorry,, this sucks,, but it will make you a better nurse.. these times, they always do.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

...sending warm hugs to the daughter and to you....

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Oh dear that is just awful I feel for the family and I thank you for your compassion

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i am send ing hugs and prayers to you and the man's daughter. what a awful shock for her, when she is so medically fragile. i'm sorry you had a horrible night, but you handled it well .

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

So tonight we heard the words "code blue, lobby gift shop." I ran down there, only to be directed to the parking lot, where and old man was being taken out of his car. No pulse, started CPR in the parking lot. Intubated him and got him to the ED where he was pronounced about 15 minutes later.

We didnt know anything about him, but he had a cell phone in his car, and an asthma inhaler clutched in his hand.

We found out later that he was here to visit his daughter, who is a pt on our unit. The daughter was just diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer today. The family came to tell her that her dad passed away on his way to see her.

After a while, I went in to check on the pt and sat on the bed with her....I told her that she was in everyones thoughts and prayers, and that I was with her dad when he passed. I didnt tell her that it was sad and scary. That we knew the code wasnt going to have a happy ending. That his ribs were crunching everytime we did compressions....that I cried when I took the crash cart back to the unit and saw that someone had thrown his jacket in the garbage can already......I told her that it was peaceful, and that there were so many nurses there that wanted to help him.

What a crappy night. We all have so much to be thanful for and dont even realize it.

What a beautiful, heart-wrenching, compassionate post!:heartbeat

If I'm ever in a position where I need to be cared for, I pray that a nurse like you will be there for me, as you were for this patient and her dad.

You have my sympathies........I've had some rough sledding at work myself lately, and some days, it's almost not worth chewing through the restraints (LOL). But even though it's painful, it's times like these that teach us the most.

God bless you~

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

Bless your heart.