Helping Nursing Assistants with Dying and Death
Nursing Assistants are a unique group of individuals who are dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care. They work hard to make sure their basic needs are met. They often go the extra mile to provide patients and their families comfort. They are trained to work hard, multi-task, and assist medical staff emergencies that arises on any given day.
That being said, their goal is to help others feel better, and dealing with the harsh reality of dying and death can be very difficult for any nursing assistant to deal with, especially for those new to the profession.
Dealing with Death and Dying
Here are some pieces of advice for the aspiring nursing assistant:
- Count the Cost before Diving In: Dealing with the issue of dying and death is relevant in any field of the medical profession. It is even more common if you are working in a critical care of elderly care facility. This issue should be taken into careful consideration before a nursing assistant accepts a position in such a facility.
- Expect Religious References and Be Respectful: As people view death differently, as a nursing assistant you have to expect to be exposed to many things going on during this time, both from the patient and their family members. For those who are religious, praying and possibly figures from their place of worship will be present. Others are afraid to die, and fight for every last breath trying to hold on. Respecting the wishes of the patient and the family is very important during dying and death.
- Cope by Keeping Them Comfortable: As a nursing assistant, you may become upset when faced with dying and death. Keep in mind that you can a great source of comfort and compassion for patients and their families during those precious last hours. Do all you can to keep the patient comfortable.
- Keep the Details in Mind: Caring for dying patients requires you to remember details about them before they became too ill to explain them. For example, if a patient asked to be turned often because of soreness, continue to rotate how they are lying even after they lose the ability to ask. Pay attention to their body temperature and adjust bedding, air conditioning, and heating as needed. A person will often become cold in the hours before death, so it is important to keep them as comfortable as possible.
- Those Final Days: While a patient is dying, the nursing assistant can help make the process easier for the patient. Adequate pain medications should be administered as needed to reduce the pain. Play music the patient enjoys the most. Consider reading them a favorite book or text from a religious text, like the Bible. Sometimes they will need extra comfort including someone to hold their hand.
- Counseling Services: If your practice offers counseling services, take advantage of them!
Know that your role is critical as part of the medical team that takes care of patients by making sure to take care of your mental health as you travel through the difficulty of death and dying.
If you are a practice owner or provider and are looking to add counseling services or make these available to your staff, contact UPS Healthcare to learn more about how we can make this happen.