HAVE A GOOD DAY

I work a 0.2 EFT at a palliative care ward. I've always loved palliative care - i find that it takes on an entirely different realm of nursing that you often don't see in acute care wards. I just started there and I'm finding the constant transition between an acute surgical ward to a palliative care ward a little challenging.. espcially when it comes to interpersonal communication. What do you say to someone who's just lost their father? You don't come accross that often on a surgical ward, thank goodness.

I had my first death the other day. No surprise. The man was dying and the family was at the bedside. No matter how much you prepare yourself mentally for an event like this, the reality of the situation when it occurs will never compare.

So, what do you say?

After all was said and done, the family thanked us at the desk and said goodbye. I walked them off the ward, hugged the wife and told the son.....to....uh...

HAVE A GOOD DAY?

Yes, I said that. Ridiculous. Immediately after the words rolled of my tongue, I had a twisting feeling in my gut that made me want to apologize for the blunder. I just walked away and took this as a lesson. If you don't know what to say, don't say anything.