Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations
With death and dying in intensive care units, there should be bereavement support for families. We propose placing an illustration of a candle on the door of an unresponsive dying patient, with additional illustrations of votive candles at the nurses’ station opposite to the door as a neutral way of...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542454818301024 |
| _version_ | 1818160620690735104 |
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| author | Elizabeth K.N. Johnson, RN, BSN Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, MD, PhD |
| author_facet | Elizabeth K.N. Johnson, RN, BSN Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, MD, PhD |
| author_sort | Elizabeth K.N. Johnson, RN, BSN |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With death and dying in intensive care units, there should be bereavement support for families. We propose placing an illustration of a candle on the door of an unresponsive dying patient, with additional illustrations of votive candles at the nurses’ station opposite to the door as a neutral way of identifying these rooms with patients who transitioned to comfort care or who have died. The candle illustrations encourage staff members to modify their words, silence themselves, and reflect. After a 1-year tryout in the neurointensive care unit with a strong positive experience for staff and families, it can be perceived as a symbol of tranquility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:04:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-643ec64c0ef045f68ad8101a5f533dab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2542-4548 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:04:47Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-643ec64c0ef045f68ad8101a5f533dab2022-12-22T00:59:14ZengElsevierMayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes2542-45482018-12-0124378381Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using IllustrationsElizabeth K.N. Johnson, RN, BSN0Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, MD, PhD1Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit, Saint Marys Hospital, Rochester, MNCorrespondence: Address to Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, MD, PhD, Division of Critical Care Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St, SW, Rochester, MN 55905.; Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit, Saint Marys Hospital, Rochester, MNWith death and dying in intensive care units, there should be bereavement support for families. We propose placing an illustration of a candle on the door of an unresponsive dying patient, with additional illustrations of votive candles at the nurses’ station opposite to the door as a neutral way of identifying these rooms with patients who transitioned to comfort care or who have died. The candle illustrations encourage staff members to modify their words, silence themselves, and reflect. After a 1-year tryout in the neurointensive care unit with a strong positive experience for staff and families, it can be perceived as a symbol of tranquility.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542454818301024 |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth K.N. Johnson, RN, BSN Eelco F.M. Wijdicks, MD, PhD Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes |
| title | Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations |
| title_full | Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations |
| title_fullStr | Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations |
| title_short | Dying in the Intensive Care Unit: A Candle Vigil Using Illustrations |
| title_sort | dying in the intensive care unit a candle vigil using illustrations |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542454818301024 |
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