I declared my first patient deceased this week. They were comfort care and surrounded by family at the moment of their passing. When I removed my stethoscope and stepped back, shaking my head at my charge RN who’d been palpating for a pulse as well, a clergy member from the community they’d invited for support stepped forward and began to pray through a choked voice, barely filling the room over the sounds of sobs and wails of family. I was left feeling a bit lost. I felt like I wanted or needed to do or say something, in my own head. Something to wish them well on their journey. I was pulled out of the room before the prayer ended, or else I would have at least closed it with the clergy member. (I’ll admit that it felt oddly rude to leave in the middle of a prayer, sending someone peacefully off to the other side, and I don’t identify with religion. But my preceptor was ushering me to leave.) Any words of wisdom for a new grad nurse? I don’t know if it was for me, for the family, or for the patient. I know this will happen again as my career progresses. In the future I’ll be declaring someone again, and I think I need something in my back pocket. Thanks.   submitted by   /u/AmiableRobin [link]   [comments]