What is the surge before death?
Surge before death is also known as terminal lucidity. It is the phase that occurs in patients before death. Nurses identify surge before death by unclear speaking, increased energy, or unclear thinking.
Impact of surge before death on patients and their loved ones:
One of the most difficult tasks that nurses have to face during their job is explaining the surge before death to the patient’s family members. This has a great effect on both patients and their loved ones. For patients, it is time for them to interact with their family, say things they always wanted to say and ask for forgiveness. For family members, it is important to talk to their loved ones one last time before they die.
Important steps for nurses to take before explaining the surge of death:
Nurses must always be prepared for the surge before death. Some of the most important steps for the nurses to take are as follows:
Signs to note:
Some signs to note before the surge of death or terminal lucidity are.
- Increased energy or becoming active.
- Desire to meet their family members.
- Unclear thinking or talking.
- Sudden craving for foods.
- Talking about things that happened in the past.
Be sure.
Once the nurses see these signs, they have to be sure by assessing the situation. Calling their loved ones and giving them news without assessing the situation can cause problems for the patient and for the family members.
Analyze family dynamics!
It is important to have information about family dynamics. Understand their emotional state first and see if they are ready for this conversation. Also, families have different values and rituals to perform, so make sure they are ready.
Be prepared
The nurses must be prepared once they indicate and confirm the signs of the surge before death. Know what you are going to say and to whom? Make sure you have the right family member to talk to. This is a very sensitive topic; you cannot just call anybody and give this information to anyone related to the patient. Some family members are emotionally weak, so the news must be delivered to them in the safest way possible.
The right time and setting
Once you are prepared, make sure that you choose the right time and setting to talk to the family members. The conversation should occur in a quiet setting with no noise, so the family members can think and absorb the information.
Show empathy
Another important thing for the nurses to consider is showing empathy. The family members will go through a lot, they will have many questions. Be patient, listen to them calmly, and answer their questions.
Controlling your emotions
You may also feel overwhelmed, so it is important to control your emotions. If you are in control, you can provide compassionate support to the family members.
Support
Be prepared before time. Once you have delivered the news, you must gather all the information to help the family later. You can give them resources that can help them. For example, you can inform them about support groups or grief counselors.
Conclusion
Explaining the surge before death to patients’ family members is one of the most difficult tasks for nurses. Therefore, nurses need to be prepared. Nurses should show compassion, support, and empathy to family members, be there in difficult times, and provide support where needed.
