1. Coping with sudden traumatic death
Dr Tricia Scott PhD Cert Ed RGN RMN
Senior Lecturer – Emergency Care Research Lead
Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care
University of Hertfordshire

2. Aims of the session
Assess the relative’s knowledge of the events leading up to the sudden death
Select appropriate terminology when giving bad news
Express genuine condolence to the relative
Recognise the reaction of the relative following communication of the sudden death message
Respond effectively to the reaction of the relative following communication of the sudden death message

3. Ground rules
Agree to reflect on personal encounters with SD in the emergency setting
Share information about these encounters
Remember the confidential nature of the information
Engage in open and honest discussion
Open door policy

4. Assess relative’s knowledge of the events leading up to the sudden death
Think of a sudden death encounter where you were involved in caring for grieving relatives

5. Write a few phrases or comments on
how much information relatives had about
what had happened to their loved one

6. Select appropriate terminology
Write notes on some words or phrases that you might use when talking with suddenly bereaved relatives

7. Expressing genuine condolence
“I’m so sorry”
Explain the physiological changes
“Death, dying dead”
“We’ve lost him”
“Gone to a better place”
“Fought hard and lost the battle”
“Is there any way that I can help you?”

8. Sensitive conversations
Announcing Clinical equipment Tissue donation The condition of the body Post mortem criteria Recording and handing over property Religion and spirituality Death certification

9. Crying, sobbing weeping
Emotional responses
Denial
Withdrawal
Anger
Acceptance
Isolation
Bargaining
Crying, sobbing weeping

10. Which do you think is the most difficult to manage?

11. Which do you think is the least difficult to manage?

12. As a carer it is sometimes difficult to separate personal feelings when intense emotions are being displayed
Carers need to be provided with opportunities for reflection, catharsis and space to calm their emotionally aroused state following contact with bereaved relatives
Wright, B. (1988) Sudden death: intervention skills
for the caring professions, London, Churchill.

13. Reflect on the last occasion when you supported distressed relatives
What opportunities did you have to talk about the death(s)? How did you respond? Were you able to meet your own emotional needs afterwards?

14. Make a list of ten professional qualities that you possess

15. From this list identify your strengths when supporting distressed relatives

16. From this list identify the qualities that you feel you need to develop when supporting distressed relatives

17. Did your comments include?
Non-judgemental attitude
Caring human contact
Sensitivity to their deep pain
Warmth
Compassion
Competence
Jones, and Buttery, M (1981) Sudden death: survivors’
perceptions of their emergency department experience.
Journal of Emergency Nursing 7(1): 14-17

18. Dealing with the family promptly on arrival
Tye, C. (1992) Qualified nurses’ perceptions of the needs of the suddenly bereaved family members in the accident and emergency department. Journal of Accident and Emergency Nursing, 18(6):
Most helpful:
Dealing with the family promptly on arrival
2nd Providing a room for the family to use
22nd Providing comfort measures (tea)
23rd Allowing viewing of the body in the ED

19. Therapeutic use of ‘self’ Engaging - not being in a hurry
Scott, T. (2007) Sudden traumatic death: caring for the bereaved, Trauma, 9:
Therapeutic use of ‘self’
Engaging - not being in a hurry
Going that extra mile
Offering words of comfort
Therapeutic silence (being there)
Delve deep into our own psyche
Experiencing their pain
Allowing words to emerge from silence

20. Iserson, K.V. (2000) The gravest words: sudden-death notifications and emergency care. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 36(1): 75-7
“Acknowledges the existence of a group of unfortunate people who, when they walk through the emergency department doors, are about to experience a defining moment in their lives due to the horror of what is about to be shared…”

21. “Unexpectedly they become our newest patients
“Unexpectedly they become our newest patients. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we prepared for them?” (Iserson, 2000, p.75)

22. Thank you