Lost Jehovah's Witness to H/H

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Specializes in Orthopaedics.

I'm a newer nurse, less than a year in. My best friend growing up, and the guy that married my sister (same guy), was a JW (best man I've ever known). I had a Pt last week that was a Jehovah's Witness. I lost her the other night. She had a hmg of 3.0. We all knew what was coming. But she was transferred to CCU (I'm a med-surg-er). She stuck to her guns, but her daughter... it was very hard. I miss them both, because they're both lost to us now. When the church came to see her, her mother and youngest were removed. It was surreal. She gave it away with much conviction. I wish I'd have had the answers, but I didn't. But I miss her. She was so vibrant. Her daughter needs her so much. She's young, and not in the church. I think of her often, now. I suppose this isn't much to the pros, but I tell you what: This was a vibrant person who I lost. She's gone, forever. And I miss her, already. Nursing is a crazy thing.

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i am so sorry for your loss.

in time, maybe you can accept that the love and belief in one's God, sometimes exceeds the love of one's own life.

prayers for faith, healing, and peace.

leslie

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Specializes in Orthopaedics.

lI can deal, leslie, and thanks for the input. But I'm troubled dealing with the impact to her family. They don't buy the same God. And why would they. Is there a solution?

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lI can deal, leslie, and thanks for the input. But I'm troubled dealing with the impact to her family. They don't buy the same God. And why would they. Is there a solution?

to me, the solution is acceptance of mom's beliefs.

not the same as agreeing with them, but accepting this is what she believed.

who's to say, "and why would they?"

that is not our call.

and it's also a part of respecting and again, accepting another's values.

her family will grieve, with or w/o her beliefs.

it is a profound loss.

again, i am sorry.

leslie

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I am sorry for your and their loss.

That was a hard call, and you did was she wanted you to do.

Hopefully, someday, you will be able to reconcile with her decisions. If not, then I hope that God can give you the peace you need so that you can understand something is truly difficult to understand.

God bless.

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Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

This is a tough thing for any nurse, let alone a new nurse to deal with. It's so sad that a child lost a parent and have a patient die over a simple health procedure. I will never understand the logic or illogical decisions based on faith. But that's just me.

As an atheist, a nurse, and a parent of 3, I will never understand this. A child is now orphaned in the name of a religion, or at least lost one parent! How tragic for this child and all involved.

Fortunately as a nurse, I have never had to directly deal with this issue.

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Specializes in LTC.

Im not a Jw but Im grateful that Im the kind of nurse that will be able to offer support even in situations like this. Im sure the pt. died with dignity and honor of not going against her religion.

my prayers are with her family.

I have a Jw resident that have had low h/h but thankfully she never needed a transfusion or not at this point atleast.

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She didn't lose her mom to some "religion". Her mom had her own personal convictions that she choose to stick to. Her strong personal beliefs about life and her future for herself and her daughter motivated this decision.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I've taken care of two JH's so far. One died. The other put her beliefs aside and did what she had to do to stay alive. And died anyways.

You're a newer nurse. So am I. Cases always seem the sharpest then. In time, she'll blur into a background of numerous cases you've seen in the past that effected you, but you can't remember the details of. Sad, but true.

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I also lost a pt to this but he was an infant, 6days old, terrible thing, by the time we got the court to intervene it was too late, what I didn't understand was why the parents brought him in anyways if they were going to refuse care, its a shame

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I also lost a pt to this but he was an infant, 6days old, terrible thing, by the time we got the court to intervene it was too late, what I didn't understand was why the parents brought him in anyways if they were going to refuse care, its a shame

That's an especially difficult situation because that child can't advocate for himself but at the same time the parents truly believe that they are doing what is right for their child. I am not a nurse yet, so I can't understand how it feels to actually be in that situation and I am not looking forward to the day I do understand.

Personally, my step mother and step brothers are JW's and I have always had a hard time understanding their decisions but luckily my step mom is very open and respectful of others beliefs and we have respectfully "agreed to disagree" for years. :) However, I can't even imagine how saddened and confused that woman's mother and child are for their loss but hopefully they will come to peace one day just as their mother/daughter did when she came to peace with her decision.

"The problem to be faced is: how to combine loyalty to one's own tradition with reverence for different traditions"

Abraham Joshua Heschel

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Specializes in Orthopaedics.

I suppose I just meant to vent, so I don't desire to offend. She was a good lady. I miss her.

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