How have friends/family helped you cope?

[Lucid]

My best friend is a relatively new RN. She has been working in the ICU since she graduated, and worked in the hospital while in nursing school.

She recently had a patient who passed; it was a very difficult assignment for her emotionally. Very tragic, and hit close to home for a number of particular reasons. I know she is struggling with this. She is no stranger to emotionally difficult situations, but I can tell this has hit her harder than anything she's dealt with before.

I'm trying my best to be supportive and just give a shoulder to cry on, but I'm just wondering what has helped you all, as nurses, when you've had a rough time dealing with the death of a patient, etc. I've worked in the medical field so I kind of have a jist as to what's going on, but I know what she's experiencing is different right now.

I know she's also pretty anxious because there will be a trial, and there is quite some attention on the whole situation. I highly doubt she will be subpoenaed or involved in any way, but she is very nervous that she may have made a small error charting, etc. I'd like to help soothe her a bit on that front as well.

Thanks!

[Zookeeper3]

Having had many of these through 17 years, know that each hospital is different first off. Any changes to documentation require an actual date and time of the legal records change. Sometimes it makes things look worse.

I'll give ya an example, I received a post op patient from anesthesia. I was called into a deposition because I was accused of giving an irritating med to an infiltrated IV (not checking it first). Anesthesia might have gone back and added a note about all the IV's being patent upon arrival... just looked like a failed attempt at CYA.

That being said, risk management or the hospital approved chain of command is in order for the friend to voice concerns as to how to adjust charting. Following the hospital policy is crucial. No one wants to seek this help, but in general I can assure you that the risk management department would rather have the consult now, than have to react from a wrong decision later.

Last, there are very many situations where I am sure I would be sued, even verbally threatened by greiving family, or simply thought so myself. Only ONCE in 17 years did that happen. There are many ambulance chasers out there, but after the process is begun, and ALL the charting reviewed do few of them make it to a deposition, let alone court.

Please consider passing on this advice, to simply follow the policy after using the chain of command. With computerized charting, nothing can be undone or eliminated... and nor should it.