Comments on: Death Is All Around Us http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=death-is-all-around-us Topics That Influence Nurses & The Influence Nurses Have On The Community Tue, 08 May 2012 06:21:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: leaky_tiki http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-23 leaky_tiki Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:44:33 +0000 http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-23 I can empathize with you Amy. When I was working on the fire department in Green Valley when I was in college I went through a "streak" like you. Between November first and December 19th I had 18 codes. Green Valley is about 25 minutes by ground to the closest hospital in Tucson, St. Mary's. Only one of the 18 codes still had a viable heart rhythm when we got to the hospital. I later found out he died less than 3 hours after we transferred care. Yes, it's probably the most difficult thing you will deal with as a health care provider. Yes, you will begin to question your skills and abilities. Yes, your confidence will tank. But the most important thing to know is that YES, you are human, you are doing the best you can, and you are making a positive impact in the lives of your patients and their families. I can't tell you how many times I was thanked for doing what I did. I took it personally when my best wasn't good enough. I even apologized to one family once. The wife told me that as she watched us work her husband, she saw the care and compassion in us and knew that we did all we could and she couldn’t ask for anything more than that. Somehow, it made it just a little bit easier to put the uniform on for the next shift and go again. I can empathize with you Amy. When I was working on the fire department in Green Valley when I was in college I went through a “streak” like you. Between November first and December 19th I had 18 codes. Green Valley is about 25 minutes by ground to the closest hospital in Tucson, St. Mary’s. Only one of the 18 codes still had a viable heart rhythm when we got to the hospital. I later found out he died less than 3 hours after we transferred care.

Yes, it’s probably the most difficult thing you will deal with as a health care provider. Yes, you will begin to question your skills and abilities. Yes, your confidence will tank. But the most important thing to know is that YES, you are human, you are doing the best you can, and you are making a positive impact in the lives of your patients and their families.

I can’t tell you how many times I was thanked for doing what I did. I took it personally when my best wasn’t good enough. I even apologized to one family once. The wife told me that as she watched us work her husband, she saw the care and compassion in us and knew that we did all we could and she couldn’t ask for anything more than that. Somehow, it made it just a little bit easier to put the uniform on for the next shift and go again.

]]> By: Not Nurse Ratched http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-22 Not Nurse Ratched Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:05:21 +0000 http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-22 Don't do that to yourself. Everyone has runs like that. Those folks were just so sick that it was their time to go: cliche but in this case true. Look at all the patients who got well and went home! Don’t do that to yourself. Everyone has runs like that. Those folks were just so sick that it was their time to go: cliche but in this case true. Look at all the patients who got well and went home!

]]> By: Xavierism http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-21 Xavierism Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:19:07 +0000 http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-21 Not only does it require skill and dedication to do your job, but I believe empathy and compassion play a huge roll. Amazing how your 6th sense comes into play. It's as though you know what the next steps should be. I work with many Hospice organizations and volunteer as much as I can. At the end of the day, I realize that I should be thankful for this moment in my life. I never know if I have tomorrow. Great post. Thanks for sharing! Not only does it require skill and dedication to do your job, but I believe empathy and compassion play a huge roll. Amazing how your 6th sense comes into play. It’s as though you know what the next steps should be.

I work with many Hospice organizations and volunteer as much as I can. At the end of the day, I realize that I should be thankful for this moment in my life. I never know if I have tomorrow. Great post. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Marc Hooks http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-17 Marc Hooks Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:44:47 +0000 http://nursinginfluence.com/death-is-all-around-us/#comment-17 I can't imagine dealing with that much death. I know that throughout time, you can become desensitized to it all. The one thing that is important is to be as warm and sympathetic as possible but also not lose your mind from caring too much. It's quite the tightrope to walk. I can’t imagine dealing with that much death. I know that throughout time, you can become desensitized to it all. The one thing that is important is to be as warm and sympathetic as possible but also not lose your mind from caring too much. It’s quite the tightrope to walk.

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