I am in my last year of nursing school and today I lost my first patient. I didn't leave her side and I held her hand until she took her last breath. She just fell asleep peacefully but I was so sad that her family was not there when she left us. The family arrived 10 min later.
But then everyone asked me if I was fine. And I said, "Of course. I am fine." Sure I was sad for the patient and the whole family but I knew her for less than 3 hours. Should I feel something more? I feel guilty of not feeling anything really.
Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
I remember my first patient death a few weeks ago and her daughter was there in her last minutes. I've known her for a month, I did her admission and saw how her health deteriorated in a couple of weeks that she was there. I was attached to the family because they were nice to me but I didn't know that her death would struck me. As soon as I saw tears falling down her daughter's cheeks, I can't stop but to get teary eyed though I managed to hide it while I was taking her vital signs. I just lowered my head and went straight to the restroom and wiped away those tears. Though I was able to provide emotional support to the family as best that I could possibly be.
Is it unprofessional to get teary eyed during this kind of situation? I'm an emotional person and little things do touch me and makes my eyes water.
For me it depends how well I know the patient. I'd taken over care on a pt that passed 1 hour later. And for a moment I did feel bad because I didn't feel bad, if that makes sense. I made sure that the family's needs were met and the patient passed comfortably. I was there at the end and pronounced death for closure for the family. Everyone deals with death in their own way and don't be surprised when some will rattle you more than others.
cebuana_nurse
380 Posts
I remember my first patient death a few weeks ago and her daughter was there in her last minutes. I've known her for a month, I did her admission and saw how her health deteriorated in a couple of weeks that she was there. I was attached to the family because they were nice to me but I didn't know that her death would struck me. As soon as I saw tears falling down her daughter's cheeks, I can't stop but to get teary eyed though I managed to hide it while I was taking her vital signs. I just lowered my head and went straight to the restroom and wiped away those tears. Though I was able to provide emotional support to the family as best that I could possibly be.
Is it unprofessional to get teary eyed during this kind of situation? I'm an emotional person and little things do touch me and makes my eyes water.