The Butterfly Effect: Supporting Pediatric Trainee Bereavement Through a Condolence Card Project

The Butterfly Effect: Supporting Pediatric Trainee Bereavement Through a Condolence Card Project

Rabinowitz DG; Korus RE; Eastland SL; Bloomhardt HM

Hospital Pediatrics

2023

Bereavement; article; human; death; pediatrics; clinical practice; grief; terminal care; dying; wellbeing; comfort; resident; human relation; pediatrician; bereavement; medical education; frustration; coping behavior; work environment; posthumous care; anger; bereavement support; medical student; catharsis; gesture; loneliness

As medical students and residents, we have all grappled with patient death and dying at some point in our training. These experiences often remain with us, informing our clinical practice, our personal wellbeing, and the ways in which we build relationships with patients and families. One memory, among many, inspired our work to bolster and reform trainee bereavement practices. On Monday, I walked into the hospital apprehensively. I was nearing the end of a month-long rotation in the medical-surgical ICU, my first experience caring for critically ill children during residency. I heard the news from my coresident: my patient had died on Sunday. Although it was not unexpected, it still hurt all the same. It was 5:50 am when I rounded the hospital corner and approached his old room. As I peeked inside, my heart sank. Just 3 days ago, this room was full of people and things and sounds;...

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