Struggling, am I a crappy nurse?

SierraMoon, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2018

I had three patients; handed one off. That shift all three coded and two died. It was freaking awful. People spent years talking about it, too. Not in a negative way about me, just as a legendary bad shift.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Oct 27, 2018

Most certainly we have had more that one patient die close together. It has nothing to do with our skills.

We are not able to outsmart the grim reaper. All we can do is try.

shiftingtides · Oct 28, 2018

Not a nurse, so not exactly comparable. But when I started working as a CNA, my first job was as a PCT on a med surg floor. Even though I was full time days, I had to work at least two night shifts so I was familiar with the routine and could pick up an OT shift occasionally if I wanted to. Both nights I had one patient pass away. I was still young - still too young to drink legally! - and had never seen anyone pass away before. It was a little traumatic because I had to go with the tech working in the morgue to assist her in getting the patients down there. When I helped her with the second, the first was still in the refrigerator, and I had to pull him back out to reposition and make room for the second person.

I wasn't traumatized or anything, but definitely one of those wake-up-to-reality moments that can hit us when we're young. And I decided then to not work nights as I suddenly felt like I was bad luck (it was a huge hospital, and seemed crazy to me at the time that only two people had apparently passed away there in that 48ish-hour period).

Of course you aren't a bad nurse! Neither was the nurse I worked with those two nights. I don't think we can curse on this board, so I'll just say that sometimes, stuff happens. We have to pick ourselves up and keep on trucking.

Daisy Joyce · Oct 28, 2018

Once upon a time I had two patients on hospice on my assignment. The first one died. I did all the paperwork/postmortem/contact families, etc.

After I crossed the last t and dotted the last I, I checked on the second hospice patient, and he, too had left us (I did check him in the middle of doing the post mortem stuff for the first resident and he was breathing at the time).

On the other hand, the next shift had a lot of fun busting my butt.

jaderook01, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2018

Two shifts, two codes, both my pt. One as soon as I got there. The other as my shift was ending (back to back shifts). Looking to see if anyone had any experience with pt's dying close together under their care. Wondering if I am turning into a black cloud. Busted my jump all day with this pt and another. Pt stable most of the day. Then he went south quickly.

It's not you. It was their time. I'm sure you did the best you could.

TexasmedicRN · Oct 29, 2018

Thank you so much for the positivity. Was a very bright white cloud while on the ambulance. Working ICU has been such and incredible learning experience. Have such a long ways to go. This help tremendously!