Suggestions for Coping With Pt. Death

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Nov 1, 2004

Something in school that helped me is we had a very great class in learning your own ethics and feelings about death! Nothing taught me more than being honest to myself about my own thoughts of death! We all learned that many deeply imbedded ideas are hidden in your mind about death..and effects you in everything you do as a nurse! From seeing death, to trying to prevent it, to ethics about treatments or hospice..all of it! From being angry at people with different views of death and treatments (like when a doc gives up on a patient, or does wayyyyyyy to much because of liablity fears) to having to admit that you sometimes have to let a patient go that wants to go despite your feelings! It opened my eyes to seeing so many different dynamics in life and death, and what my part in it is...that was very very helpful!

What I do is try very hard to realize that death is a natural thing...comes in many forms, and if there is one person that can make a difference in someones last months to hours...I sure as heck am going to be one of them!!!!!! I am going to do what I can to ensure dignity and comfort as much as possible...because that is my JOB, it is what I signed up to do!!! And it is also what I would idealy like for a nurse to think when it is my turn!

During one of the classes, my professor told us to paint the color we relate to death. Most of the pics were grey, black, or some mix with flecks of red and deep blues. Then they had us do another painting...what do you feel like when you help someone! Brilliant Yellows, greens, pinks, lively colors! Then we were to cut the lovely colors into heart shapes and put them onto the dark 'death' paintings to represent how the two can become beautiful...and all the pics came out so lovely...tears a pleanty to as we realized...alone the paintings were far from the 'art' of nursing..but together, the "art" came though and made us happier. Always think of the 'art' of what you do and never see things as cut and dry..but in some type mixture! It was pretty meaningful to see everyones pictures..and they were given back to us before graduation..talk about a cry fest!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

I still have mine :)...in fact, it is three feet away from me on the wall! :)

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Nov 2, 2004

Something in school that helped me is we had a very great class in learning your own ethics and feelings about death! Nothing taught me more than being honest to myself about my own thoughts of death! We all learned that many deeply imbedded ideas are hidden in your mind about death..and effects you in everything you do as a nurse! From seeing death, to trying to prevent it, to ethics about treatments or hospice..all of it! From being angry at people with different views of death and treatments (like when a doc gives up on a patient, or does wayyyyyyy to much because of liablity fears) to having to admit that you sometimes have to let a patient go that wants to go despite your feelings! It opened my eyes to seeing so many different dynamics in life and death, and what my part in it is...that was very very helpful!
What I do is try very hard to realize that death is a natural thing...comes in many forms, and if there is one person that can make a difference in someones last months to hours...I sure as heck am going to be one of them!!!!!! I am going to do what I can to ensure dignity and comfort as much as possible...because that is my JOB, it is what I signed up to do!!! And it is also what I would idealy like for a nurse to think when it is my turn!
During one of the classes, my professor told us to paint the color we relate to death. Most of the pics were grey, black, or some mix with flecks of red and deep blues. Then they had us do another painting...what do you feel like when you help someone! Brilliant Yellows, greens, pinks, lively colors! Then we were to cut the lovely colors into heart shapes and put them onto the dark 'death' paintings to represent how the two can become beautiful...and all the pics came out so lovely...tears a pleanty to as we realized...alone the paintings were far from the 'art' of nursing..but together, the "art" came though and made us happier. Always think of the 'art' of what you do and never see things as cut and dry..but in some type mixture! It was pretty meaningful to see everyones pictures..and they were given back to us before graduation..talk about a cry fest!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!
I still have mine :)...in fact, it is three feet away from me on the wall! :)

That is AWESOME.

Purple Princess · Nov 2, 2004

Being a CNA, I habitually read the death notices in the paper and say yep I took care of that person or they didn't seem so sick!!! what caused them to die? I never actually seen someone die until I came to my current job. It is so aweful seeing someone waste away to nothing, eat or drink hardly anything, some have feedings or iv fluids but many do not. I guess they figure let nature take it's course and just support them until the end. My partner and I had to do post mortem care on a client this past week. I almost cried. I had taken care of that woman the last night she was alive. then there are others that just seem to linger, what is it that keeps them alive? We have to allow the nurse to do a final assessment and confirm death. The doctor comes and then the mortuary people to take the person away. Sometimes we talk and comfort the family. So a project, I don't know. Maybe a support group or making collages to commemorate the person's life.