What terms do nurses use to say the baby is trying to die?

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We use the term 'trying to grow wings'....obviously to try to fly up to heaven.

It is sad to see them so ill and their bodies are just giving up trying to let go and we are giving full life support/resus....when we see them like this we say they are 'trying to grow wings'.

Does anyone else use this term?

Am I the only one that gets horrified when hearing the phrase, "circling the drain?" --- for any patient.

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Specializes in NICU/Pediatrics.

Something we say to the baby (who is generally having an A&B)

"Step away from the light"

we say that to them too. Come away from the light little one.

The other day we got report that in between feeds little man was trying to buy the farm.

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.
We use "going towards the light" , "voting himself off the island" and 'swirling" or "swirling the drain" pretty often. Never in front of parents-natch, but you have to cope somehow...

"voting himself off the island"... i like that one

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Specializes in NICU, adult med-tele.

Headed towards the light is probably the most common one I've heard.

I like the "celestial discharge." Sweet, in a way.

We also used to reference one of our local funeral homes quite often, as in Baby X is getting ready to be transferred to the ____ funeral home.

Sad but true.

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Specializes in NICU and neonatal transport.

We often say 'heaven or home?' or 'is he going to do?', meaning he going to survive.

Lots of 'don't you dare' when the babies BP starts drifting etc.

To the parents (who are in the picture) we say things like, 'I think he's had enough' and 'we should let him rest', this is particularly used when the baby is so sick and the has NEC or something and needs surgery, or it's person number 4 to try and get an IV sited.

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