When a patient dies....

[xxgreenfirexx]

I am prenursing and I keep obsessing over the responsibility that a nurse has over their patient's lives. I also worry about the legalities of when/if a patient dies...How does that work? I mean, how exactly does a RN go about ensuring they aren't blamed for the death? How or why would a facility blame an RN, if their patient was to die? I know I'm being a bit morbid but this is one of the issues that really worries me.....

[shellsgogreen]

we had two people code within 24 hrs - the first one didn't make it, but the nurse who was taking care of him was very careful about her documentation, and the night nurse found the second one, who was stable all day, had coded in the restroom. he survived, only to expire after being transferred to the icu.

if i was nervous before, i'm plenty more so now - i was checking in frequently with everyone before, but now, even more so ; even if one patient is taking up loads of time, andit's just a quick pop into check if the others are ok.

these families are putting their loved ones' lives in our hands, and as unavoidable as it may be at times ( ie, being in another patients' room etc) i don't want to risk their lives, when something as simple as checking in more may save them.

[xviii-xxv]

documentation, knowledge and close attention to the patienst and nurses rights... and common sense. :)

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I fear the legal aspects of an unexpected death, but more than that I'm afraid of how to talk to the family when a patient dies I don't know, I'm a pretty good communicator when it comes to most things, but despite all those therapeutic communication lectures, I'm still at a loss for words.