A question for Dr's and Nurse's please?

Question

I'm a student nurse. How do Dr's and Nurse's feel about seeing death? What are your views?

Answer 1

Although as Nurses and Dr's we often see death on a daily basis one shouldn't become too blasé about it.

Personally, I am one of these people that likes to see evidence before I believe in something and medically speaking, this is the safest/best way to look at things. I believe we live, die and our body is returned to earth and thus the circle of life begins again.

I don't believe there is life after death, for me, that would interfere with the whole circle of life concept (fact rather)

Everyone fears (or at some point in their life) fear the unknown and to a certain extent it is instinct to fear death; but we cannot allow ourselves to worry about issues we cannot change or indeed have no control over, one must accept this is our destiny and move on with life as best we can. It's natural as a student Nurse to have thoughts surrounding death and indeed the whole meaning of life, if your ever feel upset about anything you have seen there are people you can talk to regarding this, have a chat with your tutor or Nurse mentor and they will put you in touch.

In the UK, I found death to be somewhat of a taboo subject, more than any other country I have visited, I do feel society have lost touch with nature to a certain extent and I think the fact death isn't talked about means it possibaly induces more anxiety with regards to it. .Death is sad, but a part of life.

My love Dr Frank has an interesting quote with regards to thoughts surrounding dying that will make you smile. He may pick this question up

(that is a beautiful prayer Dr Frank thank you)

Answer 2

dearh, as absurd it mya seem, is a dact of life.

Answer 3

Anything for you Rhianna.

Everyone is afraid of their own death some of the time, but we have to get on with our lives. dealing with death itself has never been a problem for me, probably because having an interest in the biological sciences since I was in my early teens, I quickly realised that death is part of life.

Though things have changed now, when I started my anatomy training at about 18 years we were all put in the anatomy lab with about 50 bodies on metal stretchers, allocated 6 students to a body, and after a short talk, were asked to turn our bodies over and begin dissection. We spent about 4 hours a day at  this for a year. Most of us quickly developed the gallows humour you require to cope with this, those that didn't never made it.

Sometimes we all look for some sort of deeper answer. This is the best I have ever found. It is called the Serenity Prayer, there are several versions of it:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

I am not a religious man, but I find that prayer quite beautiful.

Answer 4

Its all in the mind,our minds control everything we do ,the brain is the source of everything we see.This is what i believe.Deja vu for example we have all experienced it,seeing into the future well before the event happens and you get a strange feeling inside.Everything is controled by our minds until we switch off.Think about that with your mind.=)

Answer 5

I'll have  answer quickly as I am on night duty at present.

The first time I saw a deceased person I thought she was asleep!  I had a great mentor who talked me through as we were performing last rites.

15 years on I've seen many deaths, some calm, some tragic - the worst one ever is when a pedestrian ran into me recently - he died under operation.

Thankfully i have a great belief in the afterlife, and when someone is dying I feel a great honour at being able to care for that person in a holistic way - toward their final goal.

Often its tragic when we battle hard to save a patient and lose them - it always feels to me a personal sense of loss. I dont become tearful nor emotional, we have to maintain a proffessionalism to support their bereaved family and significant others - which can sometimes be seen to others as being hard. Being hard - emotional, we have to maintain a stance to support all around whether it be junior staff, family.........

My personal view is that if a person will not benefit a better quality of life, the option of Not For Resuscitation must be addressed for the comfort of the patient .  Now we have the LCP (Liverpool Care Pathway) the decision to start a syringe pump is more clearly defined - The guidelines are there for us to follow and allows us to make decisions previously questionable ie is this appropriate/inappropriate procedure, I personally dont go home questioning myself whether we really could have done more before commencing the LCP.

My husband died in my arms after 6+ years nursing him with Multiple Myeloma (Cancer of the Blood Plasma) I strongly believe he had a premenition of hwere he was going (too long to explain here) I prayed that i would be with him when he died, it was the most wonderful experience after having seen him suffer for so long. I feel he went to paradise. I am not scared of death, but I am concerned whether i will have  pain free death - you know how it is with staff shortages...lack of resources.....

Answer 6

I was scared the first time.

It's as if the essense of the person has suddenly gone.

Everyone is a bit scared of dying, no one knows what happens spiritually.

Physically you gently wash the body, comb the hair and put on a clean gown.

If someone has been in great pain the face suddenly becomes peaceful.

In Victorian times people weren't so 'squeamish',  death is part of life.

Today the Irish have a better and more practical attitude than the Brits.