Seems like lots of patients are always dying around Christmas time. Last year, one of my pts (who I will never forget) died. She had been battling leukemia on/off for two years and she had always bounced back. This time, it was too much. I wasn’t there when she died, but I was there during the process of her wanting to try and live….and her finally communicating that enough was enough and that she was ready to go. Today a pt passed away just before the end of our shift, a young lady with leukemia. It can be really hard because you get attached working with the pts.
Today, several therapists got together for a Happy Hour and that was very therapeutic for us. We work as a team, in life/death situations and we can be kind of intense in our daily work routine. We take our jobs seriously but really try not to let it overwhelm us. Going out and just talking about regular life was very good for us. It was one way of not letting emotions build up or get out of control. This is all part of the very important, work-life balance.