DiversityNursing Blog

As Nurses, death can be a regular, everyday occurrence. But just because we encounter death frequently does not mean that experiencing the loss of a patient won't impact us. In this profession, we care for people when they are at their most vulnerable, and we create meaningful relationships with many of our patients and their families.

When we lose a patient, it’s common for Nurses to experience grief and it can be challenging to navigate the grief you feel. Here are some ways to help you cope with the loss of a patient.

Acknowledge the Loss

Losing a patient is just as real as losing any other person in your life. Try not to minimize the impact the loss of a patient has made on your life. Allow yourself the time to feel your feelings and emotions.

It is normal to experience emotions of sadness, anger, shock, or even disbelief. Some Nurses may also experience physical changes in response to the loss, such as trouble sleeping, nausea and fatigue, anger, or poor concentration. Acknowledging the loss and honoring the person's life can help you move past your grief.

Find Support

Finding support from your peers, colleagues, friends, and family is essential for coping with the loss of a patient. Having a good support system allows you to express your feelings of grief and helps you get some of the emotions you are experiencing off your chest.  

For example, many facilities offer briefings after a patient is lost so that all healthcare team members can express their thoughts and feelings and discuss how to improve patient care in the future. In addition, some Nurses may find that speaking with a therapist or grief counselor can help them navigate feelings and offer support after experiencing the loss of a patient.

Practice Self-Care

Grief can often manifest itself physically, so it is essential to prioritize your physical health after losing a patient. Nurses should get adequate sleep, eat healthy, and exercise regularly to maintain their physical well-being. In addition, some Nurses find that meditating or practicing yoga can help heal the mind and body.  

Take a Break

Death is an emotional experience, and as Nurses, we are only human. It is not unreasonable to feel all the emotions surrounding the loss of a patient. It is OK to take a break when things get tough. If you are overwhelmed with emotions after losing a patient on the job, it’s ok to take a break to cry, take a walk, or call a friend to talk. It is important to care for your personal needs so you can get back to taking the best care of your patients.

Coping with the loss of a patient can be challenging, but the first step in learning to cope is acknowledging that grief is a normal reaction to any loss. Acknowledging your feelings, seeking support, practicing self-care, and knowing when you need to take a break can help prevent Nurses from experiencing burnout and get you back to providing your patients with excellent patient care.

Patients become difficult for many different reasons. They sometimes become challenging due to diseases that affect their reasoning, like dementia or Alzheimer’s. Other times, patients can become verbally or physically abusive due to high-stress situations or unmet wants or needs. Regardless of why some patients become difficult, Nurses can help handle and diffuse difficult patient interactions with these 5 helpful tips.

Stay Calm

It may be challenging to stay calm when dealing with a problematic or irrational patient, but controlling your emotions is one of the most important things you can do during a confrontation. Reacting to a patient with anger can only escalate the situation and make it worse.  

When dealing with a difficult patient, remember in most cases, they are only being difficult to get their needs met and not to cause trouble. However, other times, patients may be misdirecting their feelings of fear or uncertainty onto you, and it is our job to help them navigate their feelings and de-escalate the situation. Some Nurses have found practicing meditation and yoga helps to develop healthy coping methods and strategies to navigate stressful patient interactions.  

Control Your Body Language

It is only natural to become defensive during a controversial situation. Your body language can often speak louder than spoken words. When interacting with difficult patients, it is important to evaluate your nonverbal communication and ensure it is portraying the right message. You should also avoid standing with your arms crossed, as it can be interpreted as rude or standoffish. Learn to control your facial expressions, gestures, and posture during difficult interactions to help diffuse the situation.  

Listen

When a patient becomes loud or argumentative, it’s natural to respond with anger and defensiveness. In these times, it is essential to remember that the patient is coming from a place of needing to be heard. Whether their request is reasonable or not, we as Nurses must listen to their concerns or complaints.

If you set aside your own feelings about the situation and listen to what the patient is saying, you may be able to get more insight into the situation and come up with a better solution to the conflict. Many times, you may not need to come up with a solution for the patient. They just need someone to listen to them and feel heard. We have to remember, patients are usually in a vulnerable state when being cared for and can be scared, frustrated, or hurt. Listening is one of the easiest ways we can connect with our patients and help them to heal both physically and mentally.  

Have Empathy

Empathy is one of the most important traits of a Nurse. When dealing with difficult patients, it is important to remember they are going through a tough time, and they may be displacing their anger onto you as their Nurse. Make sure you always try to put yourself in your patient’s shoes to better understand where they’re coming from. Patients are only human. They want to be heard and understood. If we connect with them through empathy, it will help to diffuse many uncomfortable situations.  

Set Boundaries

As Nurses, it is our job to provide for the wants and needs of our patients, but it is important to do so within your set boundaries. Sometimes, patients demand things that are unreasonable. Make sure they understand the limitations of your role. As a Nurse, it is important to find the balance between meeting your patient's needs and also standing your ground and not letting a patient push you around. Some patients may try to take advantage of your kindness so it is important to set boundaries and stick to them.

Unfortunately, every Nurse has had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a difficult patient. Next time you find yourself in a challenging situation with a patient, keep these helpful tips in mind so you can get back to providing your patients with exceptional Nursing care. 

The Nursing profession would be nothing without the contribution of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA). Certified Nursing Assistants play a vital role in healthcare by working directly under registered and licensed practical Nurses. CNAs assist patients with daily tasks like washing, dressing, and eating. The skills you learn as a CNA can be used throughout your Nursing career and will provide you with a solid foundation for building your knowledge. Here are some of the many reasons you should work as a CNA while in Nursing school.

More Comfortable Interacting with Patients

It can be an awkward adjustment for some Nursing students to become comfortable caring for their patients' intimate and personal care needs. However, Nursing students who have worked as CNAs have first-hand experience interacting with patients and do not have to spend their time in the clinical setting adapting to patient interactions. They can instead spend their time in the clinical setting developing other Nursing skills.  

Lays an Educational Foundation

Certified Nursing Assistants must have a basic knowledge of human anatomy, nutrition, infection control, communication, documentation, and basic patient care. The basic education you learn in CNA school and while practicing as a CNA, lays a solid foundation to build upon as you further your Nursing education. In addition, Nursing students with CNA experience have a leg up on other students who have yet to have the opportunity to gain first-hand Nursing experience.  

Time Management Skills

Efficient time management is an essential skill that all good Nurses must master. While working as a CNA, you will learn how to effectively manage your time which will help you navigate the intricacies of Nursing school. Effective time management results in greater productivity, efficiency, and reduced work stress. Nursing is a demanding profession, but Nurses who effectively manage their time see the worthwhile benefits.

Ideal Nursing School Candidate

Admission into Nursing programs is becoming increasingly competitive, and many students are looking for ways to help them stand out in the enrollment process. Becoming a CNA will help lay a strong foundation in Nursing skills and help you stand out in the admissions process. The invaluable experience you will have under your belt as a CNA can set your application apart from the rest.

You’ll Experience the Realities of the Nursing Profession

The entertainment industry can glamorize Nursing as a profession. However, many of the day-to-day tasks we must perform as Nurses are far from glamorous and can be pretty disturbing to some. Some potential Nursing students may not fully understand the ‘dirty’ parts of Nursing, such as dealing with bodily fluids and helping people to the bathroom. Nursing students who have worked as CNAs have experienced the unflattering side of Nursing and are more prepared to handle the realities of the job. It takes a special person to be a Nurse, and Nurses who were once CNAs, have a deeper understanding of exactly what it takes to be a great Nurse.

Ability to Adapt

The job of a CNA can be monotonous, and care tasks are usually routine. However, even though most days are timed and planned, the needs of patients can change drastically without notice. Working as a CNA while in Nursing school can help you develop the skills and confidence needed to adapt to new situations and patient changes. The ability to adapt means that when changes occur, you can deal with the problem at hand and then reorganize your day to suit the needs of your other patients.

Working as a CNA while in Nursing school is not a requirement and is entirely optional. But the hands-on experience you will gain while working as a Certified Nursing Assistant will better prepare you for Nursing school and your future Nursing career.

Nurse burnout is not a new concept. Nurses have been experiencing burnout for decades. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, more Nurses than ever are experiencing burnout, making it a hot topic in the Nursing community. Nurse burnout is often brought on by everyday stressors like insufficient staffing, increased workload, high patient acuity, and even verbal or physical abuse from patients. These stressors result in physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. As a result, Nurse burnout has been a significant factor in the number of Nurses leaving bedside Nursing or even the profession altogether.

Identifying the symptoms of Nurse burnout is the first step in preventing it from progressing. Nursing burnout is not one size fits all, and there can be many different ways it manifests itself. Nurses can experience various symptoms, including fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, anxiety, loss of desire to go to work, feeling underappreciated, overworked, or unsupported, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and may even isolate themselves or withdraw from activities.

With an emotionally demanding and stressful job, it can be normal to experience some ill feelings toward your job from time to time. However, when the ill feelings begin to linger for weeks or start to affect your personal life or how you feel toward your job, it may be time to take some time for yourself and implement some of these strategies to reduce the risk of becoming burnt out.

Develop Strong Relationships with Coworkers

Nurses work in stressful situations but having a good support system with those you work with can help lighten the load and decrease the risk of experiencing burnout. This is because Nurses in positive environments feel more supported by the people around them. Having good support from Nurse friends can reduce stress levels and the emotional exhaustion you may encounter in the clinical setting.

Prioritize Physical and Mental Health

A great way to prevent Nursing burnout is to prioritize your physical and mental health. Nurses cannot pour from an empty cup. Practicing yoga, meditation, or journaling are all excellent ways to relieve stress and work through frustrations or concerns. Nurses should also try their best to eat well, drink plenty of water, get adequate sleep and participate in physical exercise several times per week.

Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is essential to prevent burnout. Nurses often work long shifts with varying schedules, which can be challenging to navigate for some Nurses as they work opposite shifts than friends and family. Although working extra hours can benefit your wallet, it may have different personal benefits. Taking the time to disconnect from work stressors and spend time with loved ones is essential for a work-life balance. Sometimes it's better to leave work at work and avoid work-related conversations while on your time off.

Find Support with Loved Ones

The Nursing profession can come with a heavy mental load contributing to burnout. Finding support from family and friends is essential. If you experience trauma in your workplace, sometimes talking to a therapist or counselor can help with coping strategies and processing your feelings. 

Find a Creative Outlet

Having a creative outlet can help release endorphins that can help to prevent Nurse burnout. Research has shown that Nurses with creative endeavors have enhanced mood, more energy, stronger immune systems, and lower stress. Some Nurses enjoy activities like crocheting or knitting, painting, or pottery. So if you have been looking for a way to decrease work stress, now might be a perfect time to learn a new skill and pick up a new hobby.

Consider Advancing Your Career

If all else fails and you continue to experience symptoms of Nurse burnout from chronic job stress, consider going back to school to advance your Nursing career. By advancing your Nursing career, you can become a Nurse leader, Nurse Educator, or a Nurse Practitioner. These career paths can provide autonomy, a change of pace, and remove you from your current clinical environment. Advancing your career also gives you a unique advantage to change how we practice Nursing and help prevent Nursing burnout for future generations of Nurses.

It takes a team effort to prevent Nursing burnout. Administration and Nurse leaders must prioritize the well-being of their Nursing staff, and Nurses themselves must strive to care for themselves as well as they care for their patients.

Healthcare workers, especially Nurses, face more challenges today than ever. Nurses must quickly adapt to fluctuating Nurse-Patient ratios, evolving technology, and the evolutions of healthcare and how it affects the way we provide care to our patients. Medication errors are an unfortunate consequence of overwork, distraction, and system errors. The consequences of medication errors can range from minor to serious. Serious medication errors can even result in death.

Causes of Medication Errors

Medication errors can be the result of any failure to ensure that the correct medication is being administered. Clinicians, pharmacy staff, and Nurses all play a critical role in ensuring patients receive the proper medications. Clinicians must ensure that the correct medications, dosages, and routes are being ordered. Pharmacy staff must double-check the ordering clinician and then input the correct medication, dosage, and route are being entered into the electronic system. Then Nurses must check the information again before administering the medication. Even though errors can occur anywhere along this chain, Nurses carry the ultimate responsibility to check and double-check every medication they administer.

How You Can Prevent Medication Errors

No well-intentioned Nurse wants to make a medication error. Nurses are the front line of healthcare, and it is up to us to prevent errors from occurring whenever possible. Here are some things you can do to keep your patients safe and avoid medication errors.

Avoid Distractions: Avoiding distractions can sometimes be easier said than done. Nurses are constantly juggling the tasks and needs of several different patients at the same time. Distractions that can lead to medication errors can be caused by ringing phones, call lights, IV pump alarms, and interruptions by family members or coworkers.

Nurses tend to work in high-stress situations, which can lead to distraction. Whenever possible, you should avoid distractions while preparing or administering medications. Medications should be prepared in the patient’s room and double-checked to the electronic record to prevent errors from occurring.

Check the Five ‘Rights: The five rights to correct medication administration is a simple, but effective method to ensure that medications are being administered safely and correctly. Before administering any medication, make sure that you verify all five rights.

• Check the name on the order and verify the correct patient using 2 identifiers. Ask the patient their name and date of birth and check that their wrist band displays the same information.

• Check all medication labels and compare them to the original order to ensure they are the same medication. At this time, you could also check the medication’s expiration date and ask the patient if they have any medication allergies.

• Check the ordered dose and compare it to the medication on hand. Confirm that the dose is appropriate for your patient.

• Medications can be administered in many different ways, including but not limited to orally, intravenously, topically, and intramuscularly. Nurses must always ensure that medications are being given via the correct route.

• Check the order and ensure the correct time for the medication. Check the frequency of the medication and the last dose the medication was given.

Double Check Medications with a Coworker: High-alert medications can have serious consequences if not administered correctly. High-alert medications are any medications with a heightened risk of causing significant harm if administered incorrectly. Medications like heparin are considered high-alert medications due to the increased risk of bleeding to patients who receive it. Nurses should double-check all high-alert medications and any medication that can look or sound like other medications with another Nurse to help reduce the risk of medication errors.

Document: Medication administration should always be documented. Bar code scanners on electronic medical records should always be used to ensure medications are not only documented, but have been given correctly.

Speak Out: As Nurses, our priority should always be patient safety. If you identify a potential for medication errors to occur, speak to your supervisor to make a change.

Patient safety should be the number one concern for all healthcare professionals. As Nurses, we play a vital role in preventing medication errors. It may not be possible to avoid every medication error, but as Nurses, we must prioritize safe medication administration to ensure our patients receive safe and effective patient care.

What is Nursing Ethics?

Ethics in Nursing helps Nurses maintain professional accountability and navigate the complexities of the Nursing profession. Ethics are the moral principles by which people should carry themselves. Ethics is one of the most critical concepts in Nursing as it dictates our role as caregivers.

The Nursing code of ethics consists of 4 main principles. These principles are used to guide Nurses in delivering quality Nursing care while also fulfilling the ethical obligations expected within the profession. The principles include autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence.

Four Main Principals of Nursing Ethics  

Autonomy in Nursing refers to the right each patient has to make decisions based on their personal beliefs or values. As Nurses, we are responsible for educating patients on care measures and allowing them to accept or refuse medical interventions.  We must respect the choices of our patients and adapt our care to what best suits their wants. An example of autonomy in Nursing is educating a patient about the side effects of medication and allowing the patient to accept or decline taking it.  

Beneficence is the principle that every action performed by the Nurse should be to promote good. This means that every task a Nurse completes during her shift should be done for the sole benefit of the patient. Simple things we do in Nursing, like holding the hand of a dying patient or taking a patient outside to get fresh air, are considered beneficence.

Justice in the Nursing code of ethics means that patients have the right to impartial treatment. We do not judge our patients in the Nursing profession. Patients must be respected and treated equally regardless of their financial or insurance status, gender, age, or ethnicity. Justice in Nursing is treating all our patients equally and ensuring they receive the best possible care regardless of their situation.

Nonmaleficence is closely related to beneficence but is a different concept altogether. Nonmaleficence means that a Nurse should do no harm to the patient. This principal guides Nurses to maintain their obligation to protect their patients. Nurses should always prevent bad outcomes for their patients whenever possible by removing them from any harm. An example of nonmaleficence in Nursing is preventing medication errors by ensuring the “7 rights” of medication administration are correct or by applying a bed alarm to a patient's bed with dementia to prevent falls.

What are Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing?

The 4 main principles of Nursing ethics prepare us to deal with the ethical dilemmas we encounter while caring for our patients. Ethical dilemmas in Nursing create a conflict between 2 courses of action.  

The competing courses of action are both correct but can create different consequences that must be considered. Ethical dilemmas are important to recognize because, as Nurses, we cannot interject our personal beliefs into the ethical dilemmas at hand. Examples of ethical dilemmas can include:  

• Protecting the privacy of an adolescent
• A parent refusing to vaccinate their child
• End of life decision making
• Informed consent
• Pro-life vs. prochoice
  
  

Becoming an Ethical Nurse

Nursing is consistently regarded as one of the most trusted professions. Nursing ethics are essential to know and understand as it helps guide our everyday Nursing practice. Nurses are thoroughly prepared to deal with the ethical situations they encounter through many years of education and training.

Nurses can continue to learn how to conduct themselves ethically and how to deal with ethical issues through continued work experiences. Every patient interaction can teach us something new about ethical dilemmas and how we can best handle them in the workplace.

Across the entire patient experience, Nurses have a hand in almost every aspect of the patient's healthcare journey. Nurses are compassionate, and dedicated, and work tirelessly to meet the needs of their patients. Because Nurses are at the forefront of every patient interaction, there are many things that we wish our patients knew and understood about how we work and handle our everyday tasks.  

Every Patient is a Priority, but You May Have to Wait 

Nursing is a busy and fast-paced profession. Our days are jam-packed with patient care tasks, documentation, and care coordination. More often than not, it can be challenging to find time to eat, drink water, or even use the bathroom during our shifts. We hate having to make our patients wait for things they may want or need, but sometimes we wish our patients understood that we take great consideration in prioritizing our patient's needs. So, if you are asked to wait or have been waiting for something longer than you think you should have, please understand that your Nurse may have a more pressing matter to attend to, and every patient deserves our complete attention. 

Nurses are People Too 

Nurses often sacrifice their personal needs to care for their patients. As mentioned earlier, we often forgo meals and bathroom breaks to ensure we can complete all our tasks and care for your needs. Nursing can often be a thankless job. Nurses understand that you want the best quality care, and we strive to provide that to every one of our patients. Patience, understanding, and respect are all that we ask for in return. 

We Care More Than You Think We Do 

Nurses are multitaskers. At any given time, we can be juggling more tasks than you may even realize. Sometimes Nurses may come off as flustered or in a hurry, but that does not mean we do not value your wants or needs. Nurses stay late and come in on their days off to ensure their patients receive excellent care. We even think about you long after we've met because you have touched our lives. Patients are what make the Nursing profession so rewarding. We do what we do for you. 

We May Not Know Everything

We encourage our patients to ask questions, but that does not mean we have all the answers. Sometimes we may need to find the answer for you by speaking to a Doctor or collaborating with other Nurses. This does not mean we do not know what we are doing. It simply means that every patient has a different healthcare journey, and often situations arise that we may not have experience with. Our top priority is that you receive the best quality care, so if you ask a question and we do not know the answer, please rest assured that we will do everything within our power to get you the information you are looking for. 

We Do Not Judge  

Nurses do not do their jobs to judge our patients. Please always be honest when answering questions or providing your health history. Withholding information because you may be embarrassed or may not think it relevant can significantly impact the care we can provide. We care about you and want to ensure that you are cared for in the best possible way. Nurses are also prepared to take care of all your personal needs. We do not mind doing ‘gross’ or ‘embarrassing’ tasks. You do not have to say sorry for natural bodily functions. We understand and are ok with it, I promise!

The Nursing profession is a delicate blend of knowledge, compassion, and critical thinking. We strive every day to make a positive impact on the lives of our patients. A strong Nurse-patient relationship improves your healthcare experience and helps us provide you with the best quality care.