What states allow RN's to pronounce death?

[daisey_may]

What states allow RN's to pronounce death? And under what circumstances?

Does anyone have any websites or any lists?

Thanks,

Daisey

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

I notice how many people mention that 2 RNs may pronounce. That is the way it is usually ordered at my facility as well, but after reading the law, it appears that that is hospital policy.

In my unit (ICU), I only see orders in a patients chart for 2 RNs to pronounce death on patients with DNR orders that aren't intubated and death is expected soon. Patients who are made comfort care tend to have these orders as well.

[nightmare, RN]

Here we can verify a death,especially at night if it is an expected death.We do it with only a single nurse(but then there is only one nurse on duty!)The death is then certified by a doctor during the day.

[not now, RN]

I think in CA the doc has to write an order along the lines of "death is imminent, RN to pronounce" and one RN can do it on his/her own. At my facility you have to be certified by the facility to pronounce. Getting certified takes minutes though. We always call house supervisor so they know whats up.

[daisey_may]

It surprises me that it is so different in different states and facilities!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

In Oregon, it depends on the care setting. In the hospital, it takes two RNs to pronounce; in LTC only one. We don't sign the death certificate, though; an MD or NP does that.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

nightmare said:

Here we can verify a death,especially at night if it is an expected death.We do it with only a single nurse(but then there is only one nurse on duty!)The death is then certified by a doctor during the day.

I didn't finish reading all the posts so this may have been answered---but if the death was unexpected and you have to wait till day for Dr, what do you do with the body?? That just seems odd, like OK maybe he is not really dead--cause I have to wait for a Dr to officially say so... so lets just shut the curtain and wait till tomorrow for Dr to arrive?? I know you didn't make that rule, but to me it seems silly.

[nightmare, RN]

racing-mom4 said:

I didn't finish reading all the posts so this may have been answered---but if the death was unexpected and you have to wait till day for Dr, what do you do with the body?? That just seems odd, like OK maybe he is not really dead--cause I have to wait for a Dr to officially say so... so lets just shut the curtain and wait till tomorrow for Dr to arrive?? I know you didn't make that rule, but to me it seems silly.

If we had an unexpected death at night then we would call out the doctor immediately.The practice of us verifying death at night is to save the on call doctor, who is covering a very large area,from travelling all the way just to certify a death when he may be needed miles away for an emergency.

[JRD2002]

Anybody ever mispronounce someone? I have known a few nurses that have called the family and informed then only to find that somehow the patient is back alive. Granted in every case that I have heard this was only temporary and the patient quickly coded again.

[pattycakeRN]

classicdame said:

In Texas two RN's may pronouce death, also Justice of the Peace!

I still need someone to officiate my wedding... any 2 nurses available?

[MurfRN]

Dear Racing-Mom4: There is a difference between "pronouncement" and "certification" of death. RN's can pronounce death (under certain circumstances and per hospital policy), notify the MD, prep the body for the morgue, complete the paper work. The physician then certifies the death at a later time. Nothing gruesome, you don't hang on to the body for the physician to check your findings.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

At three facilities I've worked in PA (LTC / Rehabs / AL), an RN could pronounce.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Interesting, I never knew that some states allowed an RN to pronounce. I have never been around alot of death as a nurse (mainly peds), but the times I have seen pt's die expectantly, in the middle of the night, the RN is waiting around for the "DR to pronounce."