CNA & post mortem care - mandatory?

suzy253, RN · Oct 31, 2008

True, you might be doing this as a CNA and when you become an RN you can expect to do it then as well.

The deceased individual deserves every respect and care as they did when they were alive.

yousoldtheworld · Oct 31, 2008

I think there will always be a POSSIBILITY of you having to do post mortem care as a CNA. At my first job, I never actually had to, though. The one time that a resident died during my shift, another Aide volunteered to do it, as I was nervous. However, I have since performed post mortem care several times.

I can tell you though, that it is NOT as bad as you think it will be. It really isn't. If you've taken care of the patient, of course it is very sad and difficult. Even if you haven't, it can be sad. And of course, it is a very strange thing, especially your first few times. However, it is a relatively easy and fairly quick process and it gets easier.

I can tell you with certainty that ANY KIND of nursing you go into, you'll probably have to deal with post mortem care at some time. Maybe certain units of hospitals have far fewer deaths than other units and LTC, but it still happens. CNAs, LPNs, RNs - no matter your title, you have to be prepared for the possibility. There are no guarantees that you will be able to work as a nurse and never deal with death. It just comes with the territory.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2008

Wether you are a nurse or a nurse's aide, you should expect that if a pt dies on your shift, you will have to help with post mortem care. When I worked adult med-surg I did post-mortem care more times than I can count. It really wasn't that bad. You bathe the pt, pt a fresh gown on them, remove any valuables, and place them in a body bag. Yes, I know it sounds gross, but you are giving these pt's a last piece of dignity. Many times the pts had lived a good, full life and it was their time to go.

Honestly, if you can't handle post-mortem care, how do you think you will ever handle peri care, bloody accidents? How will you handle codes or other near death issues with pts? There will always be unpleasant parts of being a nurse, but you can not avoid such tasks.

rancelumsden · Oct 31, 2008

Wether you are a nurse or a nurse's aide, you should expect that if a pt dies on your shift, you will have to help with post mortem care. When I worked adult med-surg I did post-mortem care more times than I can count. It really wasn't that bad. You bathe the pt, pt a fresh gown on them, remove any valuables, and place them in a body bag.....

Precisely. I was also in med-surg/oncology and at least one person died on the unit every week. It was a very simple task and we did it respectfully. We always did the care with two CNA's, and there was no gossiping or jokes as you might do during your 'normal' duties.

Just remember, death is the final act of life (our CNA instructor must have told us that 50 times)...........

tencat · Oct 31, 2008

Really it's not as bad as you imagine it to be. It is the last thing you can do for a patient, and it means a lot to the families when you clean up grandma and put her in a pretty night gown (this is home care I'm talking about). This is adults I'm talking about. Not sure I could do it for a child.

r.oxymoron · Oct 31, 2008

You're gonna hit some major challenges as a nurse; death is part of the job, along with pain and suffering- you see people at their worst moments and, at times, their final moments.

ChristineN is absolutely correct. If you can't get past the process of post-mortem care, it may be a good idea to rethink your goals. That being said, part of nursing is introspection. Is it the finality of death? Is it the fact that you'll handle a dead body? Have you had a traumatic experience in your life? What will happen when you go to cadaver lab in nursing school? If you have unresolved difficulties with death, nursing isn't for you. You will lose patients- that's guaranteed.

heron, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2008

Yes, it's mandatory.

The only time I ever considered not asking one of my nurses to do PM care was when a Muslim nurse from Morocco told me that, in her religion, women were not supposed to see or handle human remains. She declined the offer to do the job for her ... she felt that it was part of her job and did it without a fuss.

So ... why do you think it would scare you? What's the worst that could happen?

smellyacres, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2008

Even if you never end up having to deal with post-mortem pt.s, you are still going to have to deal with cadavers in nursing school and possibly during anatomy/physiology during prereqs (not all schools have cadavers, mine does).

Many times, people feel that they will not be able to handle these tasks, but end up realizing that it is just part of the process, and accept it. Unless there is a specific reason that you KNOW you will not be able to handle it, or if you have already tried working with post-mortem pt.s and couldn't handle it, then I would say at least experience it before insisting that you could never make it work.

The harsh reality is, that through nursing school, to long term care centers, to hospitals, you will always have a situation in which you will have to deal with death. If you can not handle that, you may want to rethink what postion in healthcare you are really searching for.

Ask any nurse with experience if they have never had to deal with post mortem patients. I guaruntee most, if not all of them will say that it is inevitable.

aerocats · Oct 31, 2008

I guess I think it could scare me b/c I've never seen a deceased individual, nor do I have any experience w/ death & dying. I suppose it's the fact that I'm ignorant of the matter b/c I've never been involved w/ it. Not that I think I'll be haunted by the people I'll be doing PMC to, but it's just a bit freaky to a rookie. Make sense? I don't have a problem w/ body fluids or waste, though.

heron, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2008

I guess I think it could scare me b/c I've never seen a deceased individual, nor do I have any experience w/ death & dying. I suppose it's the fact that I'm ignorant of the matter b/c I've never been involved w/ it. Not that I think I'll be haunted by the people I'll be doing PMC to, but it's just a bit freaky to a rookie. Make sense? I don't have a problem w/ body fluids or waste, though.

Then you'll do fine. If you avoid doing things you've never done before, you won't make it thru nursing school, let alone get by on the job.

My suggestion is to go with someone doing post-mortem care the first chance you get ... or ask for help if you're assigned to do it for your first time. I think most nurses will understand.

PM care can actually be very healing, especially if you cared for or were close to a pt. It's a chance to say goodbye that people outside our profession rarely get to do anymore.

It's all in how you look at it.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2008

I guess I think it could scare me b/c I've never seen a deceased individual, nor do I have any experience w/ death & dying. I suppose it's the fact that I'm ignorant of the matter b/c I've never been involved w/ it. Not that I think I'll be haunted by the people I'll be doing PMC to, but it's just a bit freaky to a rookie. Make sense? I don't have a problem w/ body fluids or waste, though.

So you're afraid of the unknown? I can understand that, but you need to try to be more open to understanding and dealing with death. There are things we all hate about our jobs, but going into it with a negative attitude just makes it worse. Try to go into this new phase in your life open to new experiences and willing to learn.