How nurses can recognise when a death is near, and provide compassionate care to the patient and family

The death of a patient can be a difficult part of being a nurse and, depending on the healthcare setting you work in, may be something you rarely encounter. Regardless of whether you experience patient deaths regularly or rarely in your role, it is important to know what is expected of you as a registered healthcare professional. From keeping the patient comfortable in their final hours and maintaining their dignity to supporting family members and performing checks to verify death, there is a lot to get right. Failing to do this correctly can have serious consequences, with some nurses even being struck off the register for getting care wrong.