10th demise this month!

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Specializes in OB.

Hi all,

Last night at work our 10th demise of the month delivered. It is really taking a toll on the whole staff. This was a 34 week demise, on Christmas we had a 39 week demise, not to mention 8 others, 4 on the same day! We also had a baby die right after emergency c-section from some sort of viral infection, possibly CVM. Is any other facility out there seeing this increase? We usually only have 1-2 a month, although they usually come in threes. We have run out of our "hugs" boxes and paperwork, we had to get more from NICU. I don't know if we can take many more!

Molly

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

wow what a horrible run for you all. ((((((((((((((HUGE GENTLE HUGS))))))))))))))))))))

maybe your manager should get together a "debriefing" for you all together, moderated by a good social worker or psychologist......You all need to talk this out a bit, maybe share ideas and work toward resolution of the horrible feelings you must behaving. I really do see this taking a HUGE toll on all of you, and you need your own health looked after. I am so sorry you are going through all of this. So very sorry.

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Why not have some staff therapy sessions about this with A GOOD PSYCHIATRIC NURSE? Masters Level Psych RN's are qualified and probably more atuned to what goes on in another RN's head.

And I've never heard a death referred to as a "demise". Curious.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

fetal demise - a term used to describe fetal death in utero; the loss of a fetus at any stage is a fetal demise

stress debriefing extremely helpful whenever larger than number of deaths occur or unusual situations happen on a nursing unit. we had our psych clinical specialist often lead these in the 80's on my vent dependent unit and psychologist when i did hospice. really helped our team to destress. taking a me day too helped when i felt over the edge. much less depression experinced by my colleages than those who didn't believe in "talk therapy". :sniff:

today many facilites have a critical incident team or your employee asssistance program can be contacted by your manager or even yourself to arrangefor someone to vent about what happened....can even occur via a phone call too.

we have big ears and shoulders too.

found some links:

moondragon's obgyn information & discussion - fetal death syndrome ...

emedicine - evaluation of fetal death : article by james l lindsey ...

[color=#1677aa]fetal demise pouch [color=#1677aa]designed by marianne doty

http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/fetaldem.html

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I am so sorry that you all have seen so much in the last few weeks. Each and every one is so hard....

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I'm sorrry you and your unit have to go through this. I agree with everyone else ....... make sure you speak to someone about your pain/stress so it doesn't build up inside you.

My prayers are with you and the families.

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Specializes in Medical.

How awful - like they're not stressful enough, to have so many so close together (and so far along)...

Thinking of you and your staff

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Specializes in OB.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

We have a staff meeting coming up in a few weeks, I will bring up the sugestions. We do have our own "talk therapy" around the nurses station, and everyone has helped out with thses patients so no one group has had to shoulder the brunt of it. We are all very strong and will get through this, but if it keeps up it may get worse. I pray that our bad run is over and a new year will bring better things.

Thanks all!

Molly

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Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.

I'm sorry to hear this, rpbear. I hope your staff can come together & help each other through this tough time. I know the L&D nurses have to give a lot to help the grieving family through such a tragedy--you have to take care of yourselves so you don't burn out.

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