How to deal with death of toddler death on picu..

[nd deb]

I am just wondering how the nurses that work on picu deal with a death or impending death of a toddler. 2 wks ago my 2 1/2 yr old son had gotten an ear infection and then 2 days later he had gotten admitted to the hospital and then was diagnosed with m5 Aml leukemia. He was a healthly child. I just couldn't beleive how fast the cancer advanced within a short period of time. He was admitted on a mon afternoon and died wed am. He didn't really show any symptoms other then the typical ones that one would have with an ear infection. I had decided to bring him back to the clinic on mon for I was kinda of wondering if the antiboitic was working for him.

I am just wondering how the nurses that work on this unit are able to keep them selves to gether in times like that.

I am currently going to school for lpn and I am planning on going onto the ADN Rn program. I was interested in Nicu since both of my sons were preemies but now I really wonder if I would be able to handle working those areas.

[Jo Dirt]

This makes me so sad for you and your little boy. I am a mother as well and I think you are incredibly strong and brave in being able to even talk about it.

I do not believe I have the mental and emotional strength to work with dying children. Old people dying, I can deal with that. I can come home from my shift after an old person has died and function. I do not believe this would be the case if it was a child.

[gal220RN, BSN, RN]

Motor Mama:

You know, I think it really depends on the situation. Trauma is much harder to deal with because of the suddeness and violence involved. Often there is not an opportunity for closure for families. Abuse is also terrible. There is nothing worse than seeing a child die alone, because their parent is in jail. I have seen my friends pick up a dying child and place them in their lap at the time life support is withdrawn or a code is called, just so they will not die in a strange bed, but in the arms of a loving person.

Prolonged illness and suffering is different. Sometimes, death is such a blessing. There is time to say good bye.

We each do what we have to in course of a day.