So tonight we heard the words "code blue, lobby gift shop." I ran down there, only to be directed to the parking lot, where and old man was being taken out of his car. No pulse, started CPR in the parking lot. Intubated him and got him to the ED where he was pronounced about 15 minutes later.
We didnt know anything about him, but he had a cell phone in his car, and an asthma inhaler clutched in his hand.
We found out later that he was here to visit his daughter, who is a pt on our unit. The daughter was just diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer today. The family came to tell her that her dad passed away on his way to see her.
After a while, I went in to check on the pt and sat on the bed with her....I told her that she was in everyones thoughts and prayers, and that I was with her dad when he passed. I didnt tell her that it was sad and scary. That we knew the code wasnt going to have a happy ending. That his ribs were crunching everytime we did compressions....that I cried when I took the crash cart back to the unit and saw that someone had thrown his jacket in the garbage can already......I told her that it was peaceful, and that there were so many nurses there that wanted to help him.
What a crappy night. We all have so much to be thanful for and dont even realize it.
You did really good by telling her what you did. I have never told a family member how bad it really was when their loved one died. There's no reason to do it.
I'm sorry,, this sucks,, but it will make you a better nurse.. these times, they always do.
Our nurse did that when my grandma passed away. We believed her at first, but now we know she's a liar and my mom and I are constantly wondering about what really happened. It wasn't a nice thing for her to do in the long run. In fact, we're pretty upset about it still nearly two years later.
Im not sure what happened with your grandma, but I am certainly sorry for your loss.
However, I think you missed the point of my OP.
That poor man that was already dead when we reached him in the parking lot.....I can only pray that his soul was already at peace, despite our frantic attempts to recusitate him.
If sparing my patients feelings, by not giving her the gory details of her fathers death, at such a traumatic time in her life makes me a liar, so be it.
That has happened where i work. A guy was on his way to see his mom that had been rushed to the hospital with chest pain. On his way to the hospital he passed out in his car and was also, rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced. Found out that he died of a heart attack. Very sad.
justiceforjoy
172 Posts
Our nurse did that when my grandma passed away. We believed her at first, but now we know she's a liar and my mom and I are constantly wondering about what really happened. It wasn't a nice thing for her to do in the long run. In fact, we're pretty upset about it still nearly two years later.