This week I performed a euthanasia on an older pet. The dog was surrounded by family who loved and adored it. Myself and the nurses who assisted me were glad we could help him out of this life to be free from his pain. This was one of the more 'happy' euthanasias, if we can ever really say that. The dog was old and loved, had lived a full life in a good home, the catheter placed smoothly and calmly, with the dog eating treats and being loved until the very end.
These sorts of euthanasia definitely pull at the heart strings, especially where they are a long time patient, but we take peace in knowing it was best for the pet who we had been caring for. This particular euthanasia reminded of my own beloved dog at home. You may have seen on my instagram that I have an old Australian Shepherd called Charlie. My wife brought him into the relationship and I quickly fell in love with this noisy loveable soul. Unfortunately, his arthritis is progressing quickly at the moment and we are becoming worried we may not have as long as we would like left with our boy.
Some days the act of an euthanasia can get more on top of us then others, particularly if we have many of them on our schedule or the day has been more tiring than others. They can leave us feeling sad, flat or unhappy. We often fall into the trap of thinking they have no effect on us or our colleagues because we see so many of them, but it may not always be the case.
Don't forget to check in on your colleagues after a euthanasia, especially the new graduates or younger nurses who may be a bit more vulnerable. Sometimes we get so busy we forget just how hard our job can be at times. Check in on your team today. Make sure they never feel alone in those sad and challenging moments.
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