Introducing the pause after the death of a patient in critical care

Observing a collective moment of silence when a patient dies is valuable for both staff and the bereaved. This initiative won the Critical and Emergency Care Nursing category in the 2023 Nursing Times Awards.

Abstract

This article describes the implementation of holding a minute’s silence when a patient dies in Southport Critical Care Unit. It describes the rationale for the initiative, as well as the words used, and the outcomes for staff and relatives of recently deceased patients when all are given an opportunity to process the event in this way.

Citation: Pinnington M, Westwood A (2024) Introducing the pause after the death of a patient in critical care. Nursing Times [online]; 120: 3.

Authors: Melanie Pinnington is practice educator for Southport Critical Care Unit; Angela Westwood is matron for critical care, critical care outreach team, cardiac rehabilitation and pain teams; both at Southport Hospital, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. They are both Schwarz Rounds facilitators.