10 / 20
Page 53
allied
academies
Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Volume 8
March 26-27, 2018 | Orlando, USA
World Summit on
Healthcare & Hospital Management
&
International Conference & Exhibition on
Biologics and Biosimilars
T
here is lack of direction when it comes to physicians and
nurses coping with their own grief connected with the
loss of a patient. It is unprofessional to cry or show too much
emotion. The textbook of medicine teaches their students
to distance themselves and create protective boundaries.
Being emotional is a sign of weakness. This approach is
impractical and damaging. Physicians and nurses are human
and experience feelings of helplessness, guilt, uncertainty,
isolation, disappointment, and depression after the death
of a patient. These feelings can lead to medical errors and
burnout if not addressed. Working in the health profession
can be very challenging. There is a need to have a better
understanding of empathy development in the health
profession and more education on how to improve the
situation. Caring for dying patients can put a lot of stress on
nurses and physicians and this can cause them to burn out
or quit.
e:
widowsofopportunity@yahoo.comPhysicians and nurses grieve too; loss, grief and mourning
Kimberly Richardson
Widows of Opportunity, USA