The Cycle of Life
My patient passed away last night and this is the first of my nursing career. I've looked after patients who are palliative but never been working when they've passed on and been around twice when a patient has passed away but not one of my patients.
It's a totally different situation when it's your own patient. It definately made me feel like...hey, I'm actually the nurse for this patient and it's my responsibilty to talk to the family.
I was VERY nervous to talk to the family, but soon realized that the biggest thing they needed was just someone to listen. They told us in Nursing School that listening is a huge part of nursing and it makes all the difference in the world for the patient and family. I have noticed that my listening skills have come into play when dealing with patients on an every day basis, but I now realized it even more so after helping a grieving family through a very difficult time.
I spoke one on on with two of the family members at different times. I was worried about what sort of questions they'd ask...would I know the answers? Would I say the right thing? I quickly realized that all they wanted was someone to listen. I was told all about the patient's health problems in the last year, then the conversation progressed to what he was like as a father, his career and hobbies and also what he did as a young man. I felt like the whole time I was just nodding and saying mmhmmm, but I must have done something right because the next family member came out to talk to me after a while. He said that his wife had said I had been good to talk to and had some nice things to say about his father and that he should come out to talk with me. I guess I did some good without really realizing it. I
As unpleasant it is to deal with a death, I'm very glad to have been there for the family when they needed me the most. It is a privilege to be able to be there for the family in such a difficult, emotional and vulnerable time.
Maybe I will make an Okay nurse after all...
It's a totally different situation when it's your own patient. It definately made me feel like...hey, I'm actually the nurse for this patient and it's my responsibilty to talk to the family.
I was VERY nervous to talk to the family, but soon realized that the biggest thing they needed was just someone to listen. They told us in Nursing School that listening is a huge part of nursing and it makes all the difference in the world for the patient and family. I have noticed that my listening skills have come into play when dealing with patients on an every day basis, but I now realized it even more so after helping a grieving family through a very difficult time.
I spoke one on on with two of the family members at different times. I was worried about what sort of questions they'd ask...would I know the answers? Would I say the right thing? I quickly realized that all they wanted was someone to listen. I was told all about the patient's health problems in the last year, then the conversation progressed to what he was like as a father, his career and hobbies and also what he did as a young man. I felt like the whole time I was just nodding and saying mmhmmm, but I must have done something right because the next family member came out to talk to me after a while. He said that his wife had said I had been good to talk to and had some nice things to say about his father and that he should come out to talk with me. I guess I did some good without really realizing it. I
As unpleasant it is to deal with a death, I'm very glad to have been there for the family when they needed me the most. It is a privilege to be able to be there for the family in such a difficult, emotional and vulnerable time.
Maybe I will make an Okay nurse after all...
posted by The Nurse Lady @ 1:32 PM
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