Your First Patient Death: What to Expect
Emotional reaction, what helps, signs you need help.
Your first patient death is formative. Reactions vary. Both 'I cried' and 'I felt nothing' are normal.
What might happen
Numbness or sobbing. Both normal. Replay events. Sleep disruption.
What helps
Talk to colleagues who've been there. Debrief if formal one offered. Therapist for processing. Time.
Signs you need more help
Persistent symptoms >2 weeks. Avoidance of work. PTSD-like symptoms. Don't tough it out alone.
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