What do you do when a patient dies?

It’s Okay to Take Death in Stride
There are times when a patient’s death leaves you feeling only equanimity or a sense of calm inevitability. This doesn’t mean you are emotionally numb or that there is anything wrong with you. Sometimes, it simply means you are learning to accept death as the natural part of life that it is (this is often easiest when an older patient dies without extensive suffering). You may have discovered or created grieving rituals over the years that ease the emotional burden. Having a well-developed spiritual or philosophical framework within which to experience and respond to death can also be beneficial by providing a “big picture” perspective.

One thing holds true for most nurses: We aren’t trained to cope with loss in nursing school. Instead, we learn most about healthy grieving strategies on the job from other nurses who have years of experience dealing with death.

How do you feel when you lose a patient? What immediate steps do you take to let these emotions out? What do you do over the long term to keep from being overwhelmed by grief? Please share your advice in the comments section.