As a healthcare professional, losing a patient can be one of the toughest experiences of the job. Grieving the death of a patient can be very difficult, especially when you are amid working a busy schedule in a fast-paced healthcare facility. Fortunately, you do not have to go through it alone, as there is access to support and resources to help you navigate the grieving process. Here are some tips for managing grief from the loss of a patient:
Acknowledge and accept your grief.
Too often, healthcare professionals do not fully acknowledge their grief, and instead, are quick to dismiss their feelings and move on. However, failing to accept the grief you experience from the death of a patient can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. Deteriorating physical and mental health can affect your ability when helping other patients, which is why it is crucial to allow yourself to feel pain and sadness. This is a healthy alternative to channeling grief, rather than keeping your emotions bottled up. By reflecting on the time you spent with your patient, and sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or family member, you can experience a healthy grieving process with less sadness or anger.
Tap into grief support groups.
Grief support groups catered to healthcare professionals are another way to make the grieving process less painful. Support groups can be instrumental in giving you critical guidance within a safe space from others who can empathize with you. There are both virtual and in-person support groups available, all offering different resources and tools to help you through the grieving process.
Practice regular self-care.
Neglecting your health can make any form of grief feel almost unbearable. By regularly practicing self-care – including proper nutrition, exercise, and getting enough rest – you will be able to better handle your emotions without getting sick or completely drained, especially while working a hectic schedule. Dedicating time to self-care is essential for maintaining your physical and mental health, even more so during times of extreme sadness or despair.
While the loss of a patient can often be a traumatic experience, following these tips can help you deal with the grieving process that allows you to cope with your feelings in a healthy and meaningful way.
It goes without saying that healthcare positions are some of the most challenging across all industries. If you have been exploring alternatives or are interested in alternative routes, get in touch with Marquee Staffing and discover new openings through our growing job portal!
