Dietetics:NutritionCare/Coping With Death and Suffering in Year 5 2019

Relevance of topic to dietetics student learning

It is inevitable in the dietetics practice to experience or witness patient suffering and death. The emotional impact this has on the dietitian may vary depending on the relationship formed with the patient. So how is this topic relevant to dietetics student learning?

It helps us become more aware of personal emotions and reactions to death and suffering.
It enables us to become more empathetic, understanding, and respectful towards the wishes of end-of-life patients and their family members
It drives us to be more proactive in developing our personal self-care strategies in handling stress and overwhelming emotions.

Summary of key principles

There is no Concrete Definition for Patient Suffering

Mind Map organizing the different definitions of "suffering"

Patient suffering can be:

Social
Mental
Physical
Emotional
Caused by care

How to Ground Yourself in the Moment

Emotional intelligence
- Recognize and regulate personal emotions when faced with overwhelming and stressful situations
  - This will help you manage conflict and have a clearer mind in decision-making

Creating sensation
- Putting hands together and rubbing the inside of your palm
- Touching something cold
- Sipping a beverage
Cognitive strategies
- Counting backwards
- Reciting provinces or facts
- Trivia
Using your senses
- What do you see, hear, smell, or feel in the room

Self-Care Strategies

Self-care is essential in improving your health and wellbeing. It contributes to enhancing your emotional intelligence and emotionally prepares you for stressful situations.

Some strategies include:
- Exercising
- Sleeping
- Meal prepping
- Talking to friends, family, and people you trust about your emotions
- Spending time alone to relax or do hobbies that you enjoy
- Treating yourself to something nice (ie. food, fun workshops, trips)

Digital media learning resource #1

File:Coping with Patient Death & Suffering Infographic.png

Here is an infographic we created outlining self-care strategies and resources for counselling, grieving, and mental wellness.

Digital media learning resource #2

https://prezi.com/bue6rd5vwigo/interview-with-rds-and-year-5s/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

This is a Prezi presentation showcasing dietitian and Year 5 student experiences regarding patient death and suffering.

Online resources for further learning

Documentaries available on Netflix:

Extremis
End Game

Online readings on understanding death, grieving, and suffering

Helpful journal articles on healthcare professionals' experiences with patient death

Books to help understand death and patient end-of-life experiences

On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, MD
What Dying People Want by David Kuhl, MD
Staring At the Sun: Overcoming the Terror of Death by Irving Yalom

Student authors

Authors: Shannon Chau, Kate Stafford, Mankirat Grewal, Mio Lainchbury, Iris Lopez Ramirez

Developed March 31, 2019