in nursing you never get close....

[indierock]

just curious as to what you guys think of this old adage.

I had a good buddy of mine die this week at work and someone replied with this when i found out he had died. I think however that by me getting close to him at the end (knowing he was close, i took extra time with him) i would like to think i helped him.

i love all of my residents and i have found it hard to not get close. These people have gone through a lot and they still have reasons to smile, even if it is just asking them how their day is going or listening to a story they have to tell.

[Debra ACRN]

I think you never get so close you lose your ability to think and reason effectively. I have been very close to patients that die and I was always a caring, kind nurse who helped them face all the challenges they faced. When my Dad died, I was a daughter, I could afford to loose my objectivity, he had great nurses by the way.

[nurseangel47]

Not that you don't get close to them in other facilities/settings but LTC and hospice nursing are two areas where you cannot help but invest more of your heartstrings than not.

[valifay]

Its not that you don't get close, but rather you keep it at a professional level. I'm close to many of my residents, but not close like family or long time friends. Its just a different kind of closeness you experience when your job is to take care of people.

[nservice]

I have to admit I get too close to my patients sometimes, especiallly when I worked home health. I took care of one lady for over a year. She was originally a hospice patient, but just wouldn't die. Home health took over her care. I saw her every Friday for 15 months. Towards the end, I could barely make it through the visits and maintain a professional distance. When I left, I'd have to pull over and cry for a while. About a week before she died, I transfered her back to hospice. I went to see her as a friend after that. I was with her the last few hours of her life. It was a Sunday. My heart was broken, but it was a priviledge to help someone die with dignity and at home. I still visit her husband from time to time and I don't work home health anymore. I have several other home health patients that I still visit. I still call doctors for them when they are sick and request home health from the doctor. I make appointments for them and sometimes pick up their medications from the pharmacy for them. I figure that since I'm not their nurse anymore, the professional boundaries aren't being broken.