I am an ER nurse, older, 24 years ER experience. Today, one of our co-workers killed himself. Shift was horrible, we knew something was going on - fleeting sight of tears, disappearing staff members coming back into arena with red eyes. Knew it was really bad when all the administration showed up on our department, wanting to talk with us. Then they gave us the news. Brought a grief counselor with them. No time to talk with him. We had about 5 minutes to take it all in, new ambulance arriving, people running out of our ears, helicopter coming - back to work. Tonight, am so sad, just numb, can't even cry, exhausted, questioning my sanity in staying in this environment. Reaching out to all of you. Anyone been through this?????
I haven't experience a coworker suicide, but we lost a dear coworker in a horrific accident.
We got to work that evening and our administrator's were waiting along with the chaplain's. I don't know how we got through that shift that night - we were all in tears and we extremely choked up all night. The patients knew something was wrong and the chaplain was on the floors for a long time helping us deal with the patients and sometimes explaining to the patients why their nurses and aides were in tears at the drop of a hat.....
Many thoughts and prayers coming your way. It was a very hard time for everyone.
zuzi
502 Posts
The mangement need to take care of this situation appeard, and each of you need counselling, debriefing.
Do you have and policy and procedure for these type of events???