r/emergencymedicine • u/[deleted] • Sep 27 '23

Advice How to cope with peds deaths

I worked my first peds arrest yesterday. He was under a year old. I can hear his family’s screams echoing in my head and see the defeat in my team when we called it. I know it’s part of the job we do, but it sucks and I know they don’t get easier. Does anyone have any advice or coping skills to offer? I could use it.

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u/GumbyCA Sep 27 '23

I usually bottle it up and then cry at an inappropriate time later on.

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u/Surrybee Sep 27 '23

This is the way.

Probably not the best way of course. But as a NICU nurse of 12 years who has a serious aversion to therapy, it’s roughly what I do.

Also ridiculously loud music on the way home and try not to trauma dump too much on your loved ones. Have a work person (or several) who can handle it.