Loss, grief & end of life — including a death on shift

If a client dies during your shift: do not move the client, check the POLST, call 911 unless hospice instructs otherwise, then call your supervisor. Your own grief afterward is real and support exists.

1. 1If the client is on hospice: call the hospice number first (it's in the care plan) — they guide the next steps.
2. 2Not on hospice / unsure: call 911. Tell them if there is a POLST with 'Do Not Resuscitate' and have it ready to show.
3. 3Do not move the client or remove any equipment. Note the time you found them.
4. 4Call your supervisor/agency and follow their instructions; they handle family notification unless told otherwise.
5. 5Document factually: time found, condition, calls made, instructions received.
6. 6Afterward: a client's death affects caregivers deeply. Use Peer Mentors (via MRC), your agency's EAP, or a trusted person — grieving is normal, not unprofessional.

Supporting a dying client: comfort, presence, and dignity are the role — follow the care plan and hospice guidance, keep the client comfortable, and support the family's space to grieve.