Patient Death Experience.

[2k15NurseExtern4u]

I love to hear stories of memorable patient deaths. Sometimes it's just eerily cool to watch the process unfold (not to be a creep about it). Im still a nursing student so I only have 1 experience so far. Patient had stage 4 cancer with mets to the liver, brain, and a completely occluded left lung. Patient was a super goner, but family was in complete denial and believed she would "pull through." Patient finally expired during one of my clinical rotation and I felt SO relieved for her. Such a crappy way to leave this world. Thats all I got so far..

Please, share a memorable patient death experience that you have had.

[SubSippi]

In response to all of the upset about the poster using "super goner..."

I see people say things like, "circling the drain," or, "heading to the ECU (eternal care unit)," and nobody seems to get upset.

I'm not saying that anybody is wrong for feeling like that's an insensitive way to talk about a patient, but nursing/medical culture does seem to be okay with speaking this way (remember the dark humor thread?).

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

In response to all of the upset about the poster using "super goner..."

I see people say things like, "circling the drain," or, "heading to the ECU (eternal care unit)," and nobody seems to get upset.

I'm not saying that anybody is wrong for feeling like that's an insensitive way to talk about a patient, but nursing/medical culture does seem to be okay with speaking this way (remember the dark humor thread?).

I see a difference between dark humor & this thread. OP wanted to know about patient death experiences, then talked morbidly about how she was deeply fascinated with death. I think that is was most upsetting to everyone.

[OCNRN63, RN]

You misconstrue the differences between boundaries in reality with the boundaries of an anonynous online forum. Also, if you have cancer, "a bad kind," and you are well aware that there are things on AN that upset you or trigger certain emotions within you, then why would you click on a thread about death when you KNOW it would disturb you??

The title of your thread is very different from the content of the OP. And it's not "if" I have cancer; I do have cancer, something many people, including some of the mods here, know quite well.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

In response to all of the upset about the poster using "super goner..."

I see people say things like, "circling the drain," or, "heading to the ECU (eternal care unit)," and nobody seems to get upset.

I'm not saying that anybody is wrong for feeling like that's an insensitive way to talk about a patient, but nursing/medical culture does seem to be okay with speaking this way (remember the dark humor thread?).

I saw a lot of gallows humor in the trauma ICU where I worked during nursing school. I think the staff in these units see such horrific stuff that this is a coping mechanism they use to avoid chronic PTSD.

However, I did not see that ever in my own ICU experience (Neuro, CCU, Open Heart, MICU), which is of course only one person's experience. Regardless, it's pretty hard to argue that this kind of cavalier language is professional. I venture to say that if a nurse used this kind of language, only to turn and see a family member standing there, she would feel embarrassed, ashamed, fearful of reprisals, or any combination of the above. That's because at some level the nurse knows that this kind of coping mechanism is not totally "kosher," no matter how common it is. I'm not so sure the OP has this inner sensitivity, and her lack of introspection about it has disturbed many posting on this thread.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I can't understand you, OP. But I do know one thing. If I ever go to Houston, I do NOT want you as my or my family's nurse (if we happen to be admitted to the hospital).

Your laundry list of previous posts of things you admit to doing or not knowing as a senior in a BSN program is astonishing!

[RainMom]

Ditto.

The OPs post history speaks...

Goal of finishing CRNA school by 30 and has 7 years to do so and only wants ICU and can't waste time in medsurg.

Had to ask what diverting meant.

What does SNF stand for?

Openly admits to cheating

All posts from 1-3 months ago.

Now this..

I fear that a December graduation is much too soon.

You do not seem to realize that you may have jeopardized your future just to satisfy your "morbid curiosity."

If any of the faculty at your SON in Houston, or one of the ICU nurses from your recent clinical, read your accounts of the "eerily cool" death of the "super goner" Stage 4 ca pt in ICU whose family was in denial or the dying leukemia pt in ICU with fluids gushing around an "anal catheter" you will be in the dean's office.

How are you going to explain these HIPAA violations?

Are you going to tell her to relax because it's an anonymous forum?

You have posted your age, hometown and the actual name of an employer. It will appear on job applications.

It would be in your best interest to contact the site administrators and ask to have this thread removed.

I so appreciate those members who take the effort to look at the history of some posters to clue the rest of us in. Thank you!

HIPAA gods, where are you when we need you?! OP may expect to graduate in Dec, but I don't think realizes, it's never too late to fail, especially over a clinical matter or question of integrity.

[BecomingNursey]

This is concerning. I felt my heart rate steadily going up with frustration as I continued to read through the whole post. I've read every comment and the OP kept sounding worse and worse with every reply. There comes a time when you should say sorry for offending and let it go.

I could somewhat relate to your original post (even though the word choices were despicable). I've always been very honored to be the one who has been able to stand next to the bed and hold a dying patient's hand as they pass. Not because I'm fascinated with death, but because it's an honor and a privilege to be involved in such an intimate part of someone's life. I may not have ever heard of that person before my shift started and now I'm part of one of the most intimate parts of their life. That's an honor and an important part of nursing I don't enjoy, but I am always humbled to be apart of that experience.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I so appreciate those members who take the effort to look at the history of some posters to clue the rest of us in. Thank you!

HIPAA gods, where are you when we need you?! OP may expect to graduate in Dec, but I don't think realizes, it's never too late to fail, especially over a clinical matter or question of integrity.

Well she posted the name of an employer then admitted she cheated her way through pre-requisite courses claiming "it's better to cheat than repeat". Posted that she hates this forum but not really. The change of user name before she even starts her final semester of a BSN program in east Texas/Houston area just made this thread even more insulting and unprofessional. The Internet is not as anonymous as many would like to believe

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Please do not delete this thread. BSN-TXN should suffer the consequences (if there are any) of her own stupidity. If you delete this, you might actually be responsible for passing her on to anesthesia and we don't want her either. The new avatar says it all - what are you? 6 years old?

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Please do not delete this thread. BSN-TXN should suffer the consequences (if there are any) of her own stupidity. If you delete this, you might actually be responsible for passing her on to anesthesia and we don't want her either. The new avatar says it all - what are you? 6 years old?

That is, if she passes her BSN program or NCLEX, then is admitted into any CRNA program. If the OP has the wherewithal to post what she has on a public forum, I don't see her making it to get her CRNA.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

In response to all of the upset about the poster using "super goner..."

I see people say things like, "circling the drain," or, "heading to the ECU (eternal care unit)," and nobody seems to get upset.

I'm not saying that anybody is wrong for feeling like that's an insensitive way to talk about a patient, but nursing/medical culture does seem to be okay with speaking this way (remember the dark humor thread?).

Nope. Not no way, not no how.

This was not presented as "dark humor". I think you need to start from the first post and read all the way to here, and you will see what I mean.

I personally enjoy the dark humor of health care (in the appropriate time and place, of course. Break room, yes. Outside a patient's room, nope.) but this was more on the order of slowing down to look at a wreck or poking at road kill.

There are very few things in life that terrify me. Been a nurse almost 40 years, seen death and destruction many times.

This thread and the OP terrify me.

[2k15NurseExtern4u, BSN, RN]

To anyone offended, disturbed, or otherwise upset with the topic and content of thread, I apologize. I take full responsibility for the recklessness of my words and how they may have impacted you all. I do believe I was misunderstood, but as an adult, it is my responsibility to present myself in a way that is acceptable. After reading some of your comments, I have had time to realize some of the mistakes I have made on this forum. I AM SORRY.

To OrganizedChaos:

It seems that you specifically have taken this thread to heart. Not only have you been thorough in discovering that I am in a nursing program in Houston and seek employment in the area, but you have also replied to my responses on other posts that have nothing to do with this post. I have deeply offended you and I do apologize.

I am by no means a negative person. I did not intend for this thread to be negative or to "Troll," but apparently it has done just that. I merely meant to convey my interest in the transition into the afterlife from a nurses perspective.

I know a large portion of the comments on this thread were meant to encourage me to see the error of my ways and will focus on the positivity I can absorb from those comments. Thank you all for your thoughts, Positive and Negative. However, please refrain from insulting me personally as I am not "stupid" or "thoughtless". I am a person that made a mistake and had a lapse in judgement. I am owning it. Even over the anonymity of the internet (which apparently isn't all that anonymous). Once again, I apologize to anyone I have offended. I love and have loved AllNurses for quite some time now, that won't change.