"Life asked death why do people love me but hate you? Death
responded because you are a beautiful lie and I am a painful
truth."
Nurses who stand as a link and support between the patient and
family have a very crucial role to play during an event of death.
There are various strategies that the nurses adopt while handling
the family at the time of death.
- Describe the severity of the illness.
- Never give false hope to the family members.
- Be honest and hint the prognosis.
- Support decision making.
- Demonstrate concern regarding the physical,emotional,
psychosocial and spiritual well being of the family and the
patient.
- Build a good rapport with the family members.
- Be an active listener and pay attention to their concerns.
- Demonstrate professionalism by showing respect to the patient
and family.
- Assist them to perform their religious rituals.
- Give respect to the families tradition regarding cremation and
other end of life care activities.
- Allow sufficient time for family members to spend with their
patient.