Body Bags

Nurses General Nursing

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I apologize for asking such a strange question, but I'm wondering what different facilities use for body bags or other post-mortem shrouding supplies. I recently had to pronounce time of death for the first time. My patient was very sick before she passed away, and the whole situation was very sad, but the thing that saddened me the most was the post-mortem care. I promised my patient's family that I would take good care of her, and having to put her body in the body bag (my hospital uses white zippered bags made of heavy plastic that have that new plastic shower curtain-type of smell) felt almost like breaking that promise. My patient still had her gown on as well as a clean sheet, but something about zipping a person up in that bag was so impersonal and, to me, almost disrespectful to her. Even though the essence of my patient wasn't in that body anymore, I felt really sad having to zip her body up in a bag. I understand that plastic is helpful in preventing spillage of any fluids that may leave the body after post-mortem care, and that they're probably the least costly option for the healthcare facility, but I want to know if there are other facilities out there that use something less cold and stark than white zippered body bags. I guess I'm having difficulty accepting the whole thing. Thanks,

Erin

What's wrong with plastic zippable body bags? Sure beats brown paper and string!

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We don't even use bags. We clean the patient, place cottons balls in the orifice, and put on this yellow disposable gown. We leave the patient in the room like they are sleeping with clean sheets, call the funeral home, and they cover the body with a beautiful blanket-type thing to be wheeled out. I hate that we have to put them in a disposable gown : ( I guess our place isn't so bad.

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Specializes in LTC.

I don't mind the white bags. It took awhile for me to get used to zipping a person into a bag, but it has gotten better. What really creeps me out is one of the funeral homes that frequents the LTC I work has body bags that are made out of what look like navy blue short our door carpeting. Tacky and creepy. Throw them in a basic white body bag and cover it with a nice blanket.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

We use the white bags too. I agree with you, this seems cold and almost disrespectful to me. I will add that this gets a bit easier with time, however after 20+ years, I still don't like it.

This is one of those instances where my Christian beliefs can comfort me, I don't believe that "Mr Jones" is still there, that was just a temporary shell for him. I am very very very careful to NEVER allow family to even see this bag! I don't even bring it into the room until all family is gone and it is NEVER spoken of to any loved one. There are things we see as nurses that others shouldn't have to be aware of, IMHO.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

what about a white plastic sheet that you wrap around the patient and then wrap string around the neck, waist and ankles to keep it in place?

putting the patient in the body bag (or sheet) has always been the worst part for me, too. they're a person until you pull that plastic over the face, and then they're just an object. at least that's always how it felt to me.

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Specializes in Hospice, ER.

We use the white body bags. I make sure it's done respectfully, the pt is clean, and say a little prayer for them. I find it helps me with this task.

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I had to do my first post-mortem care as a nursing student a few weeks ago. The zipping up of the bag was the most emotional part for myself and the fellow students. I was not at all familiar with the patient, but it was so sad to zip that bag up, it just made the finality sink in. I was grateful that the nurse teaching us was very respectful and made the experience a positive one for all of us. Most of us have never experienced death up close.

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Specializes in Primary Care Nursing.
We don't even use bags. We clean the patient, place cottons balls in the orifice, and put on this yellow disposable gown. We leave the patient in the room like they are sleeping with clean sheets, call the funeral home, and they cover the body with a beautiful blanket-type thing to be wheeled out. I hate that we have to put them in a disposable gown : ( I guess our place isn't so bad.

Really?? I have never heard of this, but I must ask... why?

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Specializes in Primary Care Nursing.

Our post mortem care involves cleaning the patient up, usually the bladder and bowel releases its contents soon after so this is often the messiest part. Our kit comes with a white non-zippered bag, personal item list/bag and toe tag. We place all jewellery etc. in the bag and sign off the list so family has it at the ready. Dentures go back in the mouth. All patients charts have at least one sheet of addressograph labels pre-made and one goes on the toe tag. After we bag them, we place a few more of these labels on the outside of the bag. Just in case. When the porters come to take them to the morgue, we close all patient doors and clear the hallway and pause the service elevator so minimum disruption to everyone. Takes maybe 15 mins tops. If there are students kicking around, we always involve them as it's essential to become comfortable with this task early on.

Then housekeeping comes to carbolize the bed and room and a new admit comes up. No way does a body remain taking up the much-needed bed when we can't keep up with admissions even on a good day.

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Specializes in OB, ER.

The only time it bothered me was on a baby. Zipping the bag over a babies face is horrible and so wrong. Plus security has a suitcase looking thing for baby transports that they put the bag in a literally carry like a suitcase to the morgue. It's nice that no one in the hall knows what it is but it's very creepy for those of us that do. For adults they have a white rectangular frame that goes over the entire cart so I don't think most people would realize what it is during transport.

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Specializes in FP, immunizations, LTC, psych.

I think you'll find that's pretty much the standard; it may help you in coping if you respect the cultural & religious practices expressed by the patient or the family whenever possible/allowable. Otherwise, it's a part of death, and it generally bother's all of us to one degree or another. When I was finishing my CNA training, we had to do post-mortems on patients. My instructor had problems with the zipping of the bags; I however, couldn't stand the sound of the head hitting the gurney, no matter how gently. Unfortunately, it's one of the aspects of our job with which we just have to deal. You're in my prayers & I'm zenning strength to you, take care of you, k?

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Specializes in ED, OR, SAF, Corrections.

We use the bags also, but there is a way to do the post-mortem care AND put the patient into the bag and arrange it so that their family members don't see too much.

Our patients are wounded marines/soldiers that come from downrange that survive the flight to us and then die or are brain dead there and kept alive long enough here to allow their NOK to travel from the states to say goodbye. They are frequently also organ donors and we always make the body available to the family after the organ harvest, encouraging them to sit with him as long as they wish and to touch him if they like. Families often think they are not allowed to touch them. I always tell them to touch and even kiss goodbye if they want.

They are tied, tagged, and placed in the bags, and usually all tubes left in as in the states (which we always warn NOK about beforehand). We put them on a stretcher with the bag unzipped to the upper chest and a sheet or blanket draped over it. Then we put a pillow or a folded blanket under their head to cover the top part of the bag so that when you look down at them, no part of the bag is showing - it just looks like they're sleeping on the stretcher. I also dim the lights to decrease the harshness of seeing the pasty or mottled skin.

If they still have arms or hands, I also try to leave one out of the bag lying at the side or resting on the abdomen so the wife or parent can hold their hand one last time. Creative draping hides a lot. Then after the family leaves you finish up and close the bag. The NOK is too grief stricken to tell you or even to recognized anything but the loss, but some part of them appreciates what you've done. It's a gift and a curse nurses are privy too. We're there when life comes in and when it goes out. G'd bless.

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