I work as an RN on the floor, am in DNP school, and also teach clinical skills labs for baby nurses at my school.

One of my fellow skills instructors is an RN who is 70 years old if she’s a day and has tons of superstitious beliefs around nursing. Last week, she asked me, “Do you know why so many comfort care and hospice patients die when you turn them to clean them? I’ve had that happen to me more times than I can count over the years.”

Not once in my time as a nurse have I ever had that happen. Nor have I ever heard it happening beforehand. This coworker couldn’t tell me if it was a specific side she’d turned the patients to. She also couldn’t tell me if the patient had had any of the other signs of being close to death.

Has anyone seen this phenomenon? Or does anyone know anything about it? Even anecdotally. Thanks.