Comments on: My First Patient Death: A Nightmare in Real Life http://www.realityrn.com/blogroll/rookie-wit-and-wisdom/my-first-patient-death/1550/ Real Nurses, Real Conversations Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:32:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: keri http://www.realityrn.com/blogroll/rookie-wit-and-wisdom/my-first-patient-death/1550/comment-page-1/#comment-77433 keri Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:17:36 +0000 http://www.realityrn.com/user-topic-inbox/my-first-patient-death/1550/#comment-77433 im a student nurse, in school to become an rn. ive seen dead bodys before, but never watched someone take their last breath in front of me. they called a code on my pt. and after about 20 minutes of doctors and nurses coming in and out of the room, they decided there was no way she was going to survive, she was DNR, comfort measures only. The charge nurse told me to stay in the room with her, to encouarge her to hang in until her son got their, so i did. Seconds before she passed i said to her, your son will be here soon, he wants to see you. He arrived a minute to late. She cried out of her right eye, closed both eyes, took a breath, opened her eyes, and that was it. its a surreal expereince, ill never forget it. im a student nurse, in school to become an rn. ive seen dead bodys before, but never watched someone take their last breath in front of me. they called a code on my pt. and after about 20 minutes of doctors and nurses coming in and out of the room, they decided there was no way she was going to survive, she was DNR, comfort measures only. The charge nurse told me to stay in the room with her, to encouarge her to hang in until her son got their, so i did. Seconds before she passed i said to her, your son will be here soon, he wants to see you. He arrived a minute to late. She cried out of her right eye, closed both eyes, took a breath, opened her eyes, and that was it. its a surreal expereince, ill never forget it.

]]> By: Judith http://www.realityrn.com/blogroll/rookie-wit-and-wisdom/my-first-patient-death/1550/comment-page-1/#comment-73822 Judith Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:29:22 +0000 http://www.realityrn.com/user-topic-inbox/my-first-patient-death/1550/#comment-73822 I too remember my first patient death. This guy was in his 50s and supposed to go home the next day, came in for a revision on his feeding tube. About 20 min from change of shift, I was trying to get everything in order for a smooth report so I could get home! Night shift is so tiring! I was at the nurse's station getting paperwork and the monitor tech suddenly yelled for the nurse for that particular patient. When I got to his bedside, he was unresponsive, and the feeding tube that was connected to suction was full of blood! After working on him, he was pronounced. I just remember feeling so hopeless, when his family came and I saw his son crying, I broke down into tears so yes I can completely understand how you feel. This happened over a year ago and I will never forget that morning, but luckily I have a strong support system of family and friends, they can help you get through anything, especially if they are fellow nurses. I too remember my first patient death. This guy was in his 50s and supposed to go home the next day, came in for a revision on his feeding tube. About 20 min from change of shift, I was trying to get everything in order for a smooth report so I could get home! Night shift is so tiring! I was at the nurse’s station getting paperwork and the monitor tech suddenly yelled for the nurse for that particular patient. When I got to his bedside, he was unresponsive, and the feeding tube that was connected to suction was full of blood! After working on him, he was pronounced. I just remember feeling so hopeless, when his family came and I saw his son crying, I broke down into tears so yes I can completely understand how you feel. This happened over a year ago and I will never forget that morning, but luckily I have a strong support system of family and friends, they can help you get through anything, especially if they are fellow nurses.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.realityrn.com/blogroll/rookie-wit-and-wisdom/my-first-patient-death/1550/comment-page-1/#comment-73660 Rachel Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:55:45 +0000 http://www.realityrn.com/user-topic-inbox/my-first-patient-death/1550/#comment-73660 Hi Rachel, My first patient death, I cried for three days afterwards. I couldn't watch anything on tv that portrayed death, and I just couldn't get the awful feeling of how unnatural it is for someone to die out of my head. The worst part for me was taking all the tubes out, and trying to stop the bleeding from the IV, and realizing that if the blood ran out, it would never be replaced because her heart was gone. I had never once considered that as a nurse, I would deal with death. I always thought I would save everybody. This experience happened to me on a regular med-surg floor, with hospice overflow. Everyone had expected this patient to die...she was 90 some odd years old and had lived a good long life. I now work in the Pediatric ICU, and my second shift there, a little three year old died. Watching her parents wrench in anguish brought back all the feelings of inadequacy and wondering how much more we could've done. I feel your pain. I try to tell myself that no matter what happens with a patient, at least I did the best I possibly can to make them comfortable. If your patient absolutely refused the K+ check, that may have been the only thing that would have alerted anybody to an impending code, and it was his right to refuse. It gets better. The first death is always the hardest. However, I prayed after my first death that I would never loose that pain. I've seen too many nurses become calloused by death, and the day I become that way, it is time for me to quit. I will be thinking about you! Hi Rachel,

My first patient death, I cried for three days afterwards. I couldn’t watch anything on tv that portrayed death, and I just couldn’t get the awful feeling of how unnatural it is for someone to die out of my head. The worst part for me was taking all the tubes out, and trying to stop the bleeding from the IV, and realizing that if the blood ran out, it would never be replaced because her heart was gone.

I had never once considered that as a nurse, I would deal with death. I always thought I would save everybody. This experience happened to me on a regular med-surg floor, with hospice overflow. Everyone had expected this patient to die…she was 90 some odd years old and had lived a good long life.

I now work in the Pediatric ICU, and my second shift there, a little three year old died. Watching her parents wrench in anguish brought back all the feelings of inadequacy and wondering how much more we could’ve done.
I feel your pain. I try to tell myself that no matter what happens with a patient, at least I did the best I possibly can to make them comfortable. If your patient absolutely refused the K+ check, that may have been the only thing that would have alerted anybody to an impending code, and it was his right to refuse.

It gets better. The first death is always the hardest. However, I prayed after my first death that I would never loose that pain. I’ve seen too many nurses become calloused by death, and the day I become that way, it is time for me to quit.

I will be thinking about you!

]]> By: jason http://www.realityrn.com/blogroll/rookie-wit-and-wisdom/my-first-patient-death/1550/comment-page-1/#comment-73645 jason Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:15:14 +0000 http://www.realityrn.com/user-topic-inbox/my-first-patient-death/1550/#comment-73645 life is just like a glass..easy to break it up..but as a nurses or paramedic..we need rescue till d end..a lot of death had been happen in front of my eye..as a rescuer, we pray for the dead, save the live..may the spirit of rescuer always be with u.. life is just like a glass..easy to break it up..but as a nurses or paramedic..we need rescue till d end..a lot of death had been happen in front of my eye..as a rescuer, we pray for the dead, save the live..may the spirit of rescuer always be with u..

]]> By: Janeen http://www.realityrn.com/blogroll/rookie-wit-and-wisdom/my-first-patient-death/1550/comment-page-1/#comment-72136 Janeen Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:57:27 +0000 http://www.realityrn.com/user-topic-inbox/my-first-patient-death/1550/#comment-72136 Hi Rachel, It is very difficult to make the transition from student nurse to staff nurse. It took me about 2 years to feel comfortable with my new role. I remember pulling into the parking lot and hoping the ambulance outside of the ER wasn't bringing in a new patient for me. I remember feeling very unsure of myself and praying during the shift that I wouldn't hurt anyone. Feelings of inadequacy are common among new nurses and you are not alone. It sounds as though you did a very good job caring for this patient. Sometimes despite aggressive treatment patients do not survive. Death is a part of life. And, there are worse things than dying. This client's suffering is over and he is in a better place. Please don't loose the caring concern you have for patients. Compassion is an important nursing characteristic and one that is strongly reflected in your posting. Hi Rachel,

It is very difficult to make the transition from student nurse to staff nurse. It took me about 2 years to feel comfortable with my new role. I remember pulling into the parking lot and hoping the ambulance outside of the ER wasn’t bringing in a new patient for me. I remember feeling very unsure of myself and praying during the shift that I wouldn’t hurt anyone. Feelings of inadequacy are common among new nurses and you are not alone. It sounds as though you did a very good job caring for this patient. Sometimes despite aggressive treatment patients do not survive. Death is a part of life. And, there are worse things than dying. This client’s suffering is over and he is in a better place. Please don’t loose the caring concern you have for patients. Compassion is an important nursing characteristic and one that is strongly reflected in your posting.

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