Our patient A.B. spent the last 2 weeks of her life in the pediatric intensive care unit because of head trauma sustained after being hit by a car. Her family was very supportive at the bedside 24 hours a day and developed a strong rapport with the staff. They often spoke with unit team members about their daughter and her love of life. Because of her worsening neurological status, the parents decided to withdraw care. However, this decision was known only to the bedside nurse and physician. During the withdrawal/dying process, the environmental services worker went into the room to clean and stated “Good morning! Isn’t it a gorgeous day!”
This example describes what many nurses have experienced at some time in their nursing careers, whether in an intensive care setting or another unit such as a medical/surgical unit or a long-term care unit. The dying process does not happen...