Neuro ICU - Withdrawl of life support...is this so wrong?

[Nacki]

I am a traveler and had my first withdrawl of life support at this facility. Well I recieved the order to Extubate, turn off Dopamine, give 5mg Morphine IVP and to leave Diprovan on for comfort. My charge nurse and Director compared this to Euthanasia....because the Diprovan was on. I specifically asked the doctor about leaving the Diprovan on and he said he wanted him comfortable. I completly agreed. My Director and charge nurse say its wrong because if you had a healthy pt on the vent and extubated them leaving the Diprovan on they would die, I could see their point but my pt was NOT healthy and was already agonal breathing on the vent, sooooo it helped with the agonal breathing, gagging and coughing if the Diprovan was off and the ETT was pulled. What do you guys think about this?

[oneillk1]

Propofol has nothing to do with comfort. How sad.

Could it have been for the comfort of the family rather than the comfort of teh patient?

[skinnyNurse]

I am a new grad nurse. I have not seen someone removed from life support yet. I had no idea that this could happen (meaning the patient struggles). I am thankful for the article because it taught me something. I hope that you will go on and continue your nursing career, like everyone else has said, you will know how to prepare other families and now, thanks to you, so will I.

[10MG-IV]

When in the situation of a terminal dying human, most are not comfortable. We at times avoid the room, do the q 1 hour turn and assessment, look at the family gathered around the bedside and offer words of comfort some how. We have all the tools we need to allay suffering. we know the outcome, yet we are never ready. I have pushed more morphine Diprovan ativan inapsine than a narc box can hold and until the soul/spirit is ready to leave the body, will death occur. just my observations of watching the last breath sitting at bedside and being there with the families. I have seen patients receive ungodly amounts of the above and none have taken their last breath while large doses of morphine was pushed. Many refused to die till they were good and ready... till a wedding was over, and the bride and groom came to their room, till the day of their pension would go into effect so their spouse could get benefits, till a brother sister mother father made it to the bedside. We give so much credit to ourselves and the medications we administer. We tear each other down with out seeing the whole picture. You have to live with yourself and your actions. Be true to yourself. Just remember the spirit is strong even though the shell is weak. Slow down and hold their hand talk softly and don't be afraid of the dying, don't be afraid to give the medication to keep them out of pain, physical or mental. That is what being a nurse is. relieving fear, pain and anxiety and helping one die with dignity. NurseCutie it sounds like you have insight and concern for your patients. Asking 4 opinions will get you many.