The Ones that Pull at Our Heartstrings....

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been thinking alot lately about the pt's that affect us, emotionally. The ones we just can't forget. As professionally and composed as we may all try to be, I bet every nurse at one time or another has had a patient pull at their heartstrings just a little.

As much as I try not to get attached, I have been very affected by two pts in my short career. One of them has since gone on, and the other is spending Christmas in the ICU fighting for his life. My heart absolutely aches for him, and knowing there's nothing that I can do for him.

How do you all deal with coping with those special pts and their struggles at work? Do you vent here? Vent at work? Pray?

Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

My faith is what I rely on when dealing with children who are ill and dying. some are and always will be in my heart. I console myself by knowing that i tried to make their brief life a little better somehow. and i think of them running and laughing and playing in heaven; something they were unable to do here on earth.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
There is one patient that I always think about when I get blue. She was about my age, and came into the OR for what should have been a relatively simple, routine, procedure. Well, there was a cascade. Not of mistakes, but there was a lot more wrong with her than anyone had suspected and there was nothing we could do. We managed to patch her up enough to get her out of the OR and into the SICU for a brief time for her relatives to say goodbye basically. I have never felt so hopeless in my life. I know there was nothing anyone in the room could have done, but her case still haunts me. Life is so very fragile and transient.

Both of my boys are/were very close to my age (I'm only 21), so seeing someone close to my age really suffering really hurts.

*Hugs* to Aspirin for her loss. :heartbeat

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
My faith is what I rely on when dealing with children who are ill and dying. some are and always will be in my heart. I console myself by knowing that i tried to make their brief life a little better somehow. and i think of them running and laughing and playing in heaven; something they were unable to do here on earth.

Thanks, DDRN4me. :)

The one in the PICU, if we could get him better controlled, could have a good 10 years left. At the rate he's going, I don't see that happening.

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
One reason I don't work peds is I would get way too emotionally attached. I have a real soft spot for the kids. I just want to hold them and make it all go away. I could never be professionally composed. God bless you ChristineN and everyone who is able to work with children. I know it meant alot to the family for you to visit as well as the patient. Your kindness and compassion will definately be remembered and will be a positive part of the patients recovery.:icon_hug: There needs to be a warning on this thread about needing a tissue ( kleenex ) while reading through it. This has brought back memories of some patients I was particularly fond of. Today I went to one of my patients funeral. The family was so kind to me and so thankful. I never knew I had made that much of an impact on someone. ( my patient was over 90 yrs though and said she was ready ) :redpinkhe

Thank you ChristineN for sharing about your patient who tugged on your heart.

Melinurse, :icon_hug: for your loss. May your pt be free of suffering now. :)

Specializes in Stroke Seizure/LTC/SNF/LTAC.

One of my favorites died Christmas Eve. He was THE most positive person I cared for who was on dialysis. Generally, the patients with ESRD are depressed and fatigued. Not this man! I got attached to him because of his attitude and his sense of humor. RIP, PV. :crying2::redbeathe You will always remember people like that! Like someone else said, you may never know what positive impact you had on someone, even for a day.:icon_hug:

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
One of my favorites died Christmas Eve. He was THE most positive person I cared for who was on dialysis. Generally, the patients with ESRD are depressed and fatigued. Not this man! I got attached to him because of his attitude and his sense of humor. RIP, PV. :crying2::redbeathe You will always remember people like that! Like someone else said, you may never know what positive impact you had on someone, even for a day.:icon_hug:

:icon_hug: Liebling. I remember a pt I took care of that the whole floor was very fond of (and him us, we swore he requested our floor). The last time I took care of him it was last Christmas day, he had just found out that his father had died, on Christmas.

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