According to Whats your Grief (2017), nurses have a very important role when it comes to the death of a patient. Part of their job is to be supportive of the family and anything that they might need. The following are a few ways in which nurses are supportive and help the family during this difficult time and throughout the grieving process.
According to Whats your Grief (2017), nurses have a very important role when it comes to the death of a patient. Part of their job is to be supportive of the family and anything that they might need. The following are a few ways in which nurses are supportive and help the family during this difficult time and throughout the grieving process.
1) Asking what they need. Ensuring that the family knows that the nurse is there and is willing to help them throughout this process is important even if the family refuses the help. Giving options such as “What can I do to support you guys right now? Is there any other family that I can call for you, provide a medical letter for your employer/school, contact a funeral home or I can just give you some time” are all give options to the family.
2) Help the family connect with those who will best support them. Small gestures such as asking if they need anyone else to be contacted takes stress off of the family. Ensuring that the family has a safe way home, especially if they do not seem fit to drive.
3) Insuring that the appropriate resources such as Social Workers and Pastoral Care are available to them. Informing the family of these resources that are available to offer support to them.
4) Discuss with them if and how they want to spend time with the deceased to say their goodbyes. Some families wish to see and spend time with their loved ones after death and others do not. There is no right or wrong answer, nurses should make them feel supported despite their decision.
5) Make the goodbye comfortable and meaningful by explaining what they are going to see. Many people may not have seen someone die or a dead body, much less that of a loved one. Prepare them for what to expect.
6) Offer ‘memory making’ options. Family’s may want a physical memory of their loved one to take home with them. Hair locks, thumbprints, or handprints can be a meaningful way for some families to say goodbye. Some families may not be aware of these options, making this known to the family may help with saying goodbye.
7) Aiding the family with what happens next. Many families are overwhelmed with this loss and are unsure of how long they have to call the funeral home or what to tell the funeral home. Nurses can go over these details with the family (What’s your Grief, 2017).
1) Asking what they need. Ensuring that the family knows that the nurse is there and is willing to help them throughout this process is important even if the family refuses the help. Giving options such as “What can I do to support you guys right now? Is there any other family that I can call for you, providing a medical letter for your employer/school, contact a funeral home or I can just give you some time” all give options to the family.
2) Help the family connect with those who will best support them. Small gestures such as asking if they need anyone else to be contacted takes stress off of the family. Ensuring that the family has a safe way home, especially if they do not seem fit to drive.
3) Insuring that the appropriate resources such as Social Workers and Pastoral Care are available to them. Informing the family of these resources that are available to offer support to them.
4) Discuss with them if and how they want to spend time with the deceased to say their goodbyes. Normalize that some families wish to see and spend time with their loved ones after death and others do not. There is no right or wrong, so make sure they feel supported either way.
5) Make the goodbye comfortable and meaningful by explaining what they are going to see. Many people may not have seen someone die or a dead body, much less that of a loved one. Prepare them for what to expect.
6) Offer ‘memory making’ options. Family’s may want a physical memory of their loved one to take home with them. Hair locks, thumb prints, or hand prints can be a meaningful way for some families to say goodbye. Some families may not be aware of these options, making this known to the family may help with saying goodbye.
7) Aiding the family with what happens next. Many families are overwhelmed with this loss and are unsure of how long they have to call the funeral home or what to tell the funeral home. Nurses can go over these details with the family (What’s your Grief, 2017).