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¿How many patients die each day in a hospital, and how do you cope with working in an environment where that happens?

How many people do you help of day

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Elise’s Answer

Hi Ramona,

Ultimately, I think it depends on where you work and the hospital setting you are in. Trauma and ER doctors or surgeons likely see many more deaths than a general practitioner or clinic doctor. Some days are busier than others. You can expect to see quite a bit of unfortunate passings in the ER in one shift, more than one, but likely not more than 10. You may generally see between 10-30 patients on average in the ER in a shift. I worked in a necropsy laboratory where I autopsied animals, and that alone was several bodies every single day.

These kinds of jobs can weigh very heavy and it is important to know that you inherently won't be able to save every person that comes through, but knowing you did what you could is part of the job. Having a good relationship with death before you go into this kind of work is important. Try your best to understand that it's a natural part of life and it is ok to be afraid or uncomfortable. When I was a caregiver, I took comfort in knowing that just talking with people and being there for them, even in their final moments, helped them pass on easier. Talk with people you trust and are able to support you if you need to talk about it. Don't try to bottle emotions and take time to yourself if you feel you are particularly affected by someones passing.

If you aren't sure if this work is right for you, try caregiving, hospice care, medical scribing, or working jobs associated with hospital care. Ease yourself into it, but these opportunities are also a great way to get into the medical field and learn proper bedside manor. Hope this helps!
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Jessica’s Answer

I agree with the last answer also. It is different from department to department, job to job. In the nursing home/hospice it was actually rewarding to give them a peaceful death and help families cope. It is different in each situation. Using coworkers and support services helps. Good luck with your endeavors.
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Niaz’s Answer

Depends on the hospital, but the number of patients passing away varies day by day and it depends on what units are in the hospital. For example, if it is a small community hospital then maybe not so many patients will die a day. If it is a large trauma center, then you may encounter many deaths every day. When a patient passes away, it never gets easier. It always makes me emotional, and I have to step away from my work for a moment to go into a quiet room to cry or grieve. Many people try to dissociate themselves from their patients so they don't feel the pain, but I have noticed that it makes me a worse health care provider to do that. I take on the emotional pain, process it, and move on. If you plan to enter a field where you encounter many deaths, it would be wise to start creating a relationship with a therapist or life coach who could help you have a healthy emotional life.
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Liz’s Answer

Hi Romana!

This is a wonderful question and each person handles these tragic events differently.

It is hard to say how many patients pass during a day of work at the hospital. Especially since the Pandemic Began.

During the pandemic, daily expired patients reached an all time high of > 30/per day.
Prior to the pandemic, expired patients could be 1-5/per week

This all depends on the department you work in, and the external factors that have impacted nursing currently.
Lack of supplies/resources/and staff.

Dealing with loosing patients is hard, and has become harder over the years. Some people handle it well, and some others do not.

Leaning on each other for support during these trying times has gotten me by!
People whom are not in healthcare have a hard time understanding the difficulties.

Best of luck : )
Liz A.
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