New grad- what to do if patient dies

[aviaa]

Hello! So I have recently (2 weeks ago) started my first RN job at a nursing home--night shift. It is going pretty well, better than I expected. Here is my concern. I am so worried about what to do if a resident dies. Like if I walk in the room and they aren't breathing, no pulse. I haven't been in a situation like that before and am worried I won't remember CPR or to check code status. If they are full code, what do i do since it's a nursing home? I just imagine this happening and me freezing and my mind going blank. know it will probably eventually happen that a resident will die on my shift, as it is a nursing home. I'm just soooo scared of it! I am still training and am not sure when I will be on my own. I don't want to appear stupid to my trainers, so I'm on here seeking advice. Please help!! Thank you!

[thenightnurse456]

I would read through all the residents charts and make a list that I can keep on me in a notebook- the full codes, the no codes etc etc.

Most people think they'd be useless in a code but when push comes to shove and your the only RN on duty, you'll be surprised at your abilities.

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

You need to ask these questions of your trainers. No one on this forum will be able to give you the job-specific guidance you need to make you successful at work. If you're uncomfortable asking them questions, then you need to ask yourself why.

I'm not sure how the location (nursing home) has anything to do with how you react to a death. If the person is a full code, you proceed to perform CPR and call for assistance. If they're not, you do what's appropriate based on their wishes, and sometimes, that's nothing.

Give yourself some room here. Most new nurses don't feel comfortable in their first job until they have about a year's experience under their belts. You're not going to walk into this place and be the expert. You need to ask questions of the folks who are teaching you and not worry about what they think of you. What if you don't ask that stupid question, something happens, and you don't know what to do? Which scenario do you prefer?

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

That was my fear too, but I got over it quickly when a pt died on my 3rd or 4th shift! Luckily though, our DNR pts wear a colored bracelet, so we know who to perform CPR on or not, and so for it's just the DNR/hospice pts that have passed while I have been on duty (mine or other nurses pts). What I did NOT know though was that we could call time of death (2 RN's can verify) and notify family. I was NOT prepared for that :/

[Glycerine82, LPN]

I just want to say that you should probably change that "if" to a "when". Prepare yourself mentally that it WILL happen, and after talking to your preceptor, run a code through your mind. Get familiar with that facilities policies, and if the pt is a DNR, which doc you call. You are capable, and you will likely be surprised at how you handle it.