What do you do when a patient dies?

We live in a culture where most people rigorously avoid talking about death, much less witnessing it firsthand. Over the course of a lifetime, the average person may be present at the bedside of one or two very close family members in their last moments. Depending on how long a person lives and the size of their social circle, they may attend a few dozen funerals.

In contrast, nurses are faced with death and all the emotional turmoil that comes with it over and over at work. Whether you serve in a hospice setting, OR, ED or ICU, there is no escaping these events. Even if you aren’t physically present at the side of your patient when he passes, hearing that he didn’t make it is still difficult.

Next: It’s Okay to Grieve →