Losing a patient

[kayleesgrandma]

This is not CF related, but I just needed to say how hard it is when we lose a patient here in the hospital. We worked so hard with him, and he seemed to get better, than he took a turn for the worst. He was such a nice guy, and had been here for a while. It was also a new nurse's first crisis, and it so hard knowing how she feels. It's just so sad, and I needed to tell someone.

 

[mcbrash]

[No message]

 

[julie]

I'm so sorry to hear this Terri. Hopefully this new nurse can experience some closure by sharing some fond memories or something funny about the patient with his family.

 

[JennifersHope]

Aww Teri,

It is really hard to lose a patient... Some deaths stand out in my head much more then others. I remember being up all night crying when I lost my first child patient. I can still see and hear the parents screams in my head. I don't think I will ever forget it. I was fine while the emergency of it all was going on, but later when I got to my car, I crumbled.

Sad in its own right is watching an elderly person lose their life partner. Their is one older man who I will never forget his eyes and quivering lips as he watched us doing CPR on his wife of 50 years. I think I ended up staying with that man till 4 am because I didn't want to leave him.

At my hospital we have mental health emergency teams that help the families cope with loss but they also have been available to the staff as well.. Of course none of us have ever used them because we try to pretend like we can suck it up, but it is really hard, and I wish they would have taught us better coping techniques in nursing school.

I think the thing that has always helped me to cope is reminding myself over and over again that I couldn't have prevented the death and that it would have happened if I saw it or not, but at least I got to see it and be a part of helping take care of the family, or bringing some comfort to the patient in the end stage of their life.

Take Care,

Jennifer

 

[Jem]

To all those who work in the medical field and go above and beyond..."THANK YOU" for being the best of the best and for not only reaching our with your arms in service but most especially with giving your heart through the comfort and care that goes above and beyond the call. You are an exceptional group of people who do not get the recognition they deserve. But I am sure a hug, a smile, a thank you from a patient goes a long way in making it all worth it because you are special people. Keep up the great work. You are so needed! <img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[kayleesgrandma]

Thank you guys--that nurse and I ended up going to a place called the Drake Diner that served breakfast <i>and</i> Bloody Mary's. We skipped the breakfast... Talked about the night. Felt better. I'm back again tonite--life goes on.

 

[JazzysMom]

As many of you know I worked at our local hospital for many years. It wasnt direct patient care, but for the regulars I got to know many of them well. I also have had my share of pain from the passing of some of these great people. I had one man who had to put his wife in our Skilled Nursing Unit because he could no longer care for her at home & you would have thought that she passed away. That was almost as torturing as another man whose wife died of cancer & he died exactly 2 weeks to the day after her passing. I went to both the husband/wife's funeral & felt like part of their family. It hit me harder then some people that I had known all my life who died. Maybe because we understand the whole picture that we are more compassionate & become closer to them. I dont know, but I couldnt imagine being in direct patient care if it hurt as much as it did with my connections. I definitely agree to the HATS OFF to those in the medical field!