I know you all will understand ... had an infant arrest today. we only worked him 30 minutes ... but the aftermath filled the next 4 hours ... dealing with mom, pastoral care, postmortem xrays and photos, and interviews with the medical examiner. we're one of the hospitals that encourage family presence during resusitation attempts. mom's whaling and pleading and crying are haunting me tonight - she is one tough lady, i hope this doesnt break her!

Anyway ... i'm thankful for the encouragement and understanding that we can bring each other ... i've gotten my courage back so many times by reading from other bloggers out there (Kim!) and knowing that we're all together in the battle. Hang tough y'all ...

Actually I cannot even begin to understand how difficult that was Hopefully some of the ER nurses that post here can provide you with some better commiseration.

As a nurse, I often hear, "I could never do what you do." I see plenty of heartache, but what you describe is beyond heartache. So as a nurse, I just have to say... I could never do what you do.

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code blog

Oh Sue! {{{{{}}}}}}

I've taken care of some pretty sick infants/newborns but my youngest code was six years old.

That has to be one area of our specialty that we never, ever get used to.

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The ER is the only place where you are rewarded for efficiency by getting more patients!

Kim
http://www.emergiblog.com

i can't imagine... but, think about it this way: how sad would it have been if you didn't feel sad? thank goodness you've still got feelings! but, sorry to hear about the code... <hugs from me to you>

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thanks folks ... tofu .. had the same thought ... just being glad that i still cared and could still shed tears .. nice to know i'm not entirely hardened!

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To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived: This is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Doing research over the University Holidays. One of the projects is on how nurse cope with death and dying in the ED. Any ideas what should be asked in a questionare to get some good productive answers, so that measures can be put into place to support staff.

Thanks.

I don't know if this is appropriate or not, but during an arrest when the family is not present; I find myself singing. I don't sing vulgar or obnoxious songs, but they aren't always gospel hymns either.

After the arrest, if the patient has expired, I raise the head of the bed 30 degrees to get the blue hue to leave the face and cover the patient with a heated blanket. I cover the whole body but especially the hands where the family members are more than likely to want to touch. I know it's a silly ritual, but I'd like them to feel the warmth of their loved one. They have a life time to deal with the cold reality.

I don' know if that's a question, but it's just one of the ways I cope.

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www.MyOwnWoman.blogspot.com

PJ,

Having recently completed a course about designing survey instruments, let me just say that it's a pretty difficult thing, requiring some very specific knowledge to design a reliable, valid measurement tool.

PJ maybe you would be better to do a small piece of qualitative research where you ask people about their coping mechanisms. As Marachne says the whole survey thing can be tricky, and you could put in lots of work and get a poor response.