Have you gone to patient's funeral?

[sunfirebsn]

Hi all, I have been working happily (usually) haha as an RN in Dialysis for almost a year now and this question popped into my head. We have a small clinic, so this gives you a chance to really get to know the patients, which I enjoy doing. They are all so sweet and think they enjoy talking with us and telling us about their lives. Sadly, I think some of their conditions may be declining in the future, so I was thinking about these questions. Do you think it is appropriate? and have you gone to a patient's funeral/viewing and what did their family think? I know a year isn't a ton of time to know somebody, but I think I would go. I don't know whether some of my co-workers would go or not though, probably stating they wouldn't think it is appropriate. I just think in this particular field especially it's hard not to form a bond with the patients. I am curious to see the responses to this so thanks for your input!!! :bowingpur :biggringi

[prmenrs, RN]

I have gone to a baby's funeral in the past. Actually 2, I think. It is nice to provide yourself w/closure, and to support the family in this manner.

JMO

[AmyLiz]

I personally have not been to a pt's funeral, but several of my co-workers have gone in the past. I can't say that I would or wouldn't go...it would depend on the pt and when the funeral is (a lot of times the funeral is on a day I work).

The closest thing I've done is that I went to the viewing of the grandparent of one of my pts. The pt was young (late 20's) and his grandfather had taken him to dialysis every day for 10+ years and sat with him the whole time. The viewing was on a Saturday & (I along with a couple of co-workers) went after work to pay our respects.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

A friend of mine who's worked Heme/Onc for 8 years has never gone to a patient's funeral, even if they'd been on her floor for a long time.

I, on the other hand, have gone to at least 10 funerals over the past 8 years for some of the babies I've cared for. Our nurse managers try to rearrange our schedules so that we can go to these services, so it's definitely approved of. Some of the parents have said that they wanted us there because we were the ones that actually knew their babies and spent time with them, while most of the family and friends coming had never even met the baby.

Maybe it's different with babies and adults?

[babynurselsa, RN]

I have been to many funerals of patients. Mostly when I worked NICU. I also worked Hospice for a while. These situations you spend much time with the patients and the families and can become close.

[suebird3]

I have gone to at least 3 funerals that I can remember. 2 were rezzies at the home I work at, and one a Home Health case. These people had made such an impact on my life, I had to go.

Suebird

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I did when i worked in NH.

[grannynurse FNP student]

I went to a teenage patient's funeral. And I spoke at the funeral of an adult's funeral. at his request and his wife's. And I went to a wake of a patient.

Grannynurse:balloons:

[pshs_2000]

when my grandpa died. one or two nurses from the hospice came to his funeral. some send sympathy cards too.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I've been to 2 patients funerals, both of them long term private duty patients.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Off the top of my head, I can think of 4 wakes that I've been to. Theses were kids (bmt patients). You really get close to these kids and the families. They seemed appreciative that we came. It is difficult. I was very nervous with the first one- for fear of the parents reliving bad memories of their kid being really sick.

I haven't been to one in a couple of years, I only work per-diem in the hospital now. Thus, less attachment.

[Diploma'82]

When I worked oncology I attended 1 or 2 because I had come to know the patients so well