Coping with Loss as a Nursing Student
It’s already 4 in the afternoon, and time has flown by during your clinical placement, one of your favorites.
With just three hours left in your shift, another nurse on the unit shares troubling news about a patient who had a challenging surgery earlier in the day.
You both head to the patient’s room to assess the situation together. A sense of unease washes over you, and your heart skips a beat.
The patient’s swollen abdomen looks familiar, but you can’t quite place why. As her nurse pulls up the medical history on the screen, it all becomes clear: you had observed her surgery in the operating room just last week during your PACU rotation.
Embracing Your Uniqueness for Positive Change in Healthcare
Memories flood back—how small she seemed, how delicate as she was transferred to the operating table. The procedure itself was quick, yet the team’s meticulousness in ensuring her stability stands out. You couldn’t stay long as you had medications to prepare for your own patients, but minutes later, a red flash caught your attention—the crash cart. Nurses rushed back to the room, drawing medications, setting a metronome app for compressions at 100 bpm.
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Compressions, pulse check, medication administration, pulse check, compressions, and blood for a rapid transfusion—a cycle on repeat.
You knew it wouldn’t go on indefinitely, but the question lingered: how long? Amid these thoughts, you try to process it all in real-time. Suddenly, the present snaps into focus—the room is still, hands no longer moving, rhythm strip flatlined. Asystole. The patient is gone.
Such situations are rare for nursing students. You spend around 7-12 hours a week, for 12 weeks, assisting nurses on the unit. Your duties revolve around critical thinking and honing hands-on skills. Preparing for the emotional challenges of witnessing a patient’s loss is nearly impossible.
Understanding Grieving as a Nursing Student
Remember, it’s okay to grieve and feel. We might urge ourselves to be strong and hold back tears because we didn’t know the patient well. But that mindset is wrong. Strength can coexist with acknowledging natural emotions. Regardless of the short time spent caring for the patient, you did connect in some way—with the patient and maybe their loved ones. Grieving a life lost is natural; staying composed helps you console the family, provide support, and offer post-mortem care—respect for the patient and their family is paramount.
Emotional Challenges Nursing Students Face
Building emotional bonds with patients is a core aspect of nursing, yet during these moments, it’s also the most challenging. If you need to cry, take a moment alone after your shift—that’s fine. Afterward, leave the emotions behind, so they don’t weigh you down constantly. How can you prevent these emotions from taking a toll on your life? The answer is to manage stress effectively.
Support for Nursing Students
Some might confide in mentors, friends, or partners to share feelings. Expressing yourself to a sympathetic ear can help you process what you’ve witnessed. Others might opt for self-care activities—like journaling, taking a relaxing bath, getting a massage, listening to music, reading, or watching a favorite show.
Importance of Self-Care for Nursing Students
Letting emotions consume you can hinder your ability to care for others. You need self-care before caring for others. You chose nursing for a reason; remember that, but also recognize the diverse paths within nursing. Some situations might profoundly impact your mental health—accept that. If it does, evaluate where your best fit in nursing lies.
Managing Stress in Nursing
Nursing offers numerous opportunities based on interests—from pediatrics to geriatrics, oncology to rehabilitation, home care, education, management, and more. Certain experiences may help you uncover where you want—or don’t want—to work. No matter the path, ensure you’re doing what you love, what ignites your passion. That’s where you’ll thrive, becoming the best nurse you can be and delivering exceptional care.
Written by Alyssa Comille Vinzons, RN, BSN
How Nurses Cope with Patient Death: Strategies for Emotional Resilience
Nurses face the challenging reality of patient death regularly, and one of the most effective ways they cope is through communication. Talking with colleagues about these experiences provides comfort, support, and a way to process their emotions, making it easier to continue caring for other patients.
Embracing Adaptive Coping
Nursing Today emphasizes the importance of adaptive coping strategies over avoidance. These positive approaches help nurses manage stress rather than letting it accumulate. For instance, if a nurse feels overwhelmed after a long shift, stepping away for a brief moment can help them regain focus, while lashing out in frustration only increases stress.
The Dangers of Avoidance
Avoiding emotions or creating distance from patients can lead to greater stress and emotional fatigue. According to Dr. Robert S. McKelvey, a psychiatrist, nurses who suppress their grief may find it difficult to connect with other patients and experience personal relationship challenges. This can also lead to issues like trouble sleeping or eating.
Examples of Adaptive Coping Strategies
Many nurses share how they use adaptive coping techniques when dealing with patient deaths. For instance, Rowena Orosco, a nurse at Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center, recounts a heartbreaking experience with a young burn patient. After holding the girl’s hand as she passed away, Orosco initially considered quitting but chose to seek support from colleagues instead. “You kind of put your emotions aside because there are other patients waiting for you,” she noted.
Other nurses also shared their coping strategies:
- Michelle, RN: “I find peace in praying for the patient, their family, and myself. My faith gives me comfort.”
- Jenny Martinez, RN: “Taking breaks is essential. Even a short walk or chat with colleagues helps recharge my spirit.”
- Candace Mayle, DNP: “Remembering the positive impact I have on patients and families gives me strength to continue.”
- T. McAdam, RN: “As an ER nurse, I’ve learned to balance compassion with emotional resilience, allowing me to provide care without becoming overwhelmed.”
- H. Scott, RN: “Practicing yoga and meditation helps me cope with the emotional toll of caring for oncology patients.”
Building Comfort with Death and Dying
Research in the Open Journal of Nursing shows that a nurse’s comfort with death is influenced by personal beliefs. Nurses who view death more positively tend to provide better end-of-life care. Interestingly, younger nurses often report a stronger fear of death, which can affect their approach to patient care.
Ten Strategies for Coping with Patient Death
- Acknowledge that death is a part of life.
- Allow yourself time to grieve.
- Communicate openly with family members.
- Talk with colleagues about your feelings.
- Engage in prayer or meditation.
- Take breaks to recharge.
- Consider taking a reflective trip.
- Spend time outdoors to clear your mind.
- Avoid searching for reasons for death.
- Don’t dwell on grief for too long.
Nurses often form close bonds with their patients and their families, making the experience of death deeply personal. Developing effective coping strategies is crucial for maintaining their emotional well-being and continuing to provide compassionate care. By sharing their experiences and supporting one another, nurses can foster resilience and continue their vital work in healthcare
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