Respiratory Therapy - Let's talk about DEATH! How do you deal with it?

This video is sincere in nature, in the fact that as healthcare workers we, Respiratory Therapists, play an important role in this process. Here's my thoughts. What are your's?

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BEST WISHES!!!

[mrsjwilson]

Thank you for doing this video! 5 years in this field and I pray before every terminal extubation that I do. I'm not a religious person, but I pray for the patient and their family. There definitely needs to be more open discussions on this subject!

[austinwhiting]

I was dreading the day I needed to watch this video. Today is that day. I’m still in my second semester but have made an effort to make the most of every possible situation I will find myself in as a future RT. This has meant losing a lot of patients in the trauma bay, during codes, and extubation. I have been able to work through a lot of those situations in a healthy way with a lot of help from God but a situation involving a 4 month old in the trauma bay has been haunting me for over a month. I keep reliving that memory of losing that baby almost every day. I can’t figure out where to put that in my mind and I don’t know how to work through the memory of her mother being too scared to hold her baby’s hand as she slipped away. I see the look in her eyes every day. The lives saved and the care given makes it so worth those painful memories we can’t shake. I am so much more thankful for everything I have and find myself holding my wife a little longer than I used to since getting I to this career part. Sorry for the long post, just needed to get this off my chest with people who understand.

[viviana_lanina]

Coach thank you for this video, I am an RT student and I did this for the first-time last summer 2021, my professor was there instructing me all the way. I didn't cry right away but as soon as I got home, I embraced my parents and I cried with them. It has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Always treat my patients as I would want my family to be treated. Again, thank you so much for this video, not a teaching video, but I still learned a lot.

[josielinville]

This helped me a lot. I’m going to school for RT and this is the one thing that I was skeptical about going into this field for but this really helped me on how to deal with the grief .

[randa.]

Another excellent video. This is definitely not talked about enough in school. During a clinical rotation, I witnessed one instance of how I never ever wanted to act during this time. I just really appreciate this video, and everything you do. I look up to you so much. Thank you.

[tronx]

Thanks Joe, you kept me in it in school. One of the best teachers I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t be the RT I am without your guidance

[stevensweeney]

This video is so important to see and to understand this concept. I love your approach to the situation and I want to try to carry it into my first rotation. I think this is a video every student should watch before going into rotations.

[jefferyfelix]

Thank you for doing this video. I'm a first semester respiratory care student. I'm going towards being an RRT because I have had two different partners that had be placed on ventilators for different health reasons. Thanks in part to the RT care they received I had a few more months with them that I wouldn't have had. One area of practice I'm feeling pulled towards as an RRT is to be part of a palliative care team or hospice. One goal of mine is to help with quality of life for my patients and sometimes that means that the quantity may not be as long as we'd want or hope it would be and that's ok. Sometimes we will be able to save people. And some times we won't.

[melissaakers]

Thank you so much for this video! My first two terminal extubations, AS A STUDENT, were back to back! The first one was a young man with Down Syndrome. As a mother and grandmother myself, My heart broke for his mama!

[BigAsh]

You are so spot on with this video. Death is not talked about enough in school!!! Its ok to cry and feel the feelings. It should remind us that we are so blessed for the life we have. Truly, thank you for this. Taking these gems as I go to the scary jump from student to RT.

[matty]

You have a great mentality and I respect how much you care for your patients. This is actually the first time I've ever heard anyone clearly state to use an existing tragedy for the better, and to both feel empathy and pass it on through others. Usually when tragedy strikes it becomes an inward conversation, in how will I deal with such and such, losing perspective on what actually matters. I wish you lived where I did, and could be my RT, because most health care professionals I've worked with are indeed robots as you call them, and how I care for myself has been in many ways self taught and done.

[mariczaterrazas]

This was a great video! I know seeing death is never easy no matter how many times you see it. I love being in health care and seeing people get better or seeing others pass away and being able to release them to a better place. I always bring my thoughts home. I love being able to hug my family after a long day and having them tell me that its ok and they are there for support. Health care is never easy and only some people can handle it. Thank you for this video!

[ndstartrrt]

I'm a student currently and have been part of a few codes where the patient died (there was no family present), and I was in the room during one terminal extubation, but I have yet to do a one myself. I haven't cried, but I have absolutely thought about that person and how much they probably meant to their family and friends. The one terminal extubation I attended, the patient was very elderly and had been sick for a long time. While their family was certainly sad, they also seemed relived that their loved one was no longer going to be in pain and living a life in a way they did not want. I have no clue how I will feel under other circumstances but I definitely feel empathy for the patient and their loved ones.

[fishingsoulschristceoofgi]

The first time I assisted (student) pulling the plug in the ICU felt like I was in a What would you do? TV episode. There was hospital staff in administration in a group of 3 people among their staff talking about the patient in the patient room. “People like that don’t belong to be part of society” . I was just in disbelief they were carrying on such conversation. and then mouth talking about the family (a conversation that lasted 5-8minutes felt like 5 hrs)

patient was 3rd generation homeless 🙏🏽💔

[tlouallen]

I’m a senior Student RT and I had a patient die on me during a code blue. Lately I’ve been having a lot of deaths in my circle. Just seeing certain thing give me a connection to the patient. Sometimes it’s hurtful to see a patient fighting for that last breath. Sometimes it’s watching the family hurt that brings you to tears. All I can do is pray for the family and continue to spread love. We are hero’s !

[mohamedhabibberhanu]

I really admire you coach. By the way you remind me that one wisdom said by a wise man ( If you feel the pain of others you are a human and if you feel your pain you are still a life). Humanity comes first because it narrows our differences and lifts our level of thinking.

[samguentherillustration]

I had a really hard time with trauma calls after my dad died in a motorcycle accident. I had to step back a little and ask for help so I could deal. New therapists need to know they have their coworkers to help deal with death. Coworkers know what youre going through and if you have someone you're comfortable talking to, do so.

Also, be hugely respectful around the room of a dying person. Be quiet, no loud voices, take conversations elsewhere.

[vfdssyj]

After watching the video, I was moved to tears. You are not only an excellent teacher but also a outstanding doctor bro

[TEZBucksForever]

Great video, this is something we spend little to no time talking about during our RT education.

[vangilovesdaddy]

Man you are so right! My first day of clinical was a terminal extubation, I have my two classmates and the instructor in the pt's room. When it was over the girls and I cried but are instructor was there for support he made us feel good about death in a way I guess. Im now 10yrs as a rt. I cry still I know they have just moved to a better home RIP my peeps I love you and will stay by your side anytime