The End

In nursing, sometimes no matter what we do, our patient is not meant to get over whatever is making them ill.  I dealt with this a lot when I worked on the floor, in the unit, and in the nursing home.  I had yet to deal with this situation in the cath lab. Until today.

My patient today was young, in his mid 50's. The doctors did everything they could think of. Drips were opened wide, the Impala (like a balloon pump) was used, stents were placed, the patient was intubated. No matter what we did, it was not enough. I will not get into the gruesome details. In the end, we were unable to get him back. 

I know that everything was done possible. And I understand that when it is your time, you will go. I also know that people have different ways of coping with their stress.  I witnessed some forms of coping that were inappropriate. It upsets me that nurses sometimes forget that our patients are human. They have loved ones, lived a life, worked.  We need to show respect and protect the dignity of those around us. Which is what I tried to do.

What did I learn today? I learned that I hope I never lose my compassion for the human nature. I do not want to become desensitized to what happens in my work.

There is a dignity in dying that doctors should not dare to deny.
-unknown