Sudden traumatic death: the significant and unique contribution of emergency nurses

When a person dies suddenly and in traumatic circumstances, emergency nurses are required to manage the aftermath of the event with competence and sensitivity. Yet minimal education and training exists to enable this specific set of skills to be refined. Involvement in the space between life and death in the emergency department raises concerns about the practical management of the body of the deceased, legal and forensic issues, organ and tissue donation issues, and the emotional management of oneself and others. The purpose of this paper is to deconstruct the events central to sudden traumatic death; considering the personal beliefs and values of emergency personnel involved. This paper acknowledges the significant and unique contribution of emergency nurses when supporting and comforting grieving relatives.