Dead bodies?

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Last night we had four codes. All of them ended badly (Patients died). One of my functions is to bring the bodies to the morgue, and this was my first time handling a dead person. I had to tag them and put them in a bag etc. I'll be honest, it gave me the creeps. I was acting like it didn't bother me, but on the inside I was a wreck. I hate to say it but the more people that died last night, the easier the job became. The real hospital is nothing like Grey's Anatomy makes it seem lol

Specializes in ED/ICU/TELEMETRY/LTC.

As an ED nurse, I have carried 5 babies wrapped in a blanket to the morgue in my arms. It all most killed me to leave them there. Our hospital was small and the morgue is distant and dark. (Are they all?) It almost killed me to leave them there. The very worst one for me was a 5 year old boy. He was deaf. He and his hearing brother and sister (were staying with their great grandmother. She popped them some popcorn. Put in a movie for them to watch, and went into other parts of the house. He made some funny noises, but they didn't really pay attention because he made a lot of funny noises, remember he was deaf.

By the time the grand mother got back he was blue. Choked to death on an unpopped kernal of popcorn that he couldn't get out. It swelled up and blocked his airway. I carried him so carefully and talked and sang to him. It still breaks my heart. It's been about 5 years.

Just my thoughts. This post made me think about it. I am crying.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I consider it an honor to do post-mortum care. It's the last job I can preform for my pt and thier families. That said, while doing the care I talk to them and sing to myself (usually Amazing Grace).

I once had a 98yr old lady pass. When I called for premission for RN Pronouncement, the PA who was angry about being woken up, demanded to know if it was an expected death.... my reply was "she's 98... do you think she was immortal??

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Specializes in CICU.
I carried him so carefully and talked and sang to him. It still breaks my heart. It's been about 5 years.

Just my thoughts. This post made me think about it. I am crying.

I am glad he got a song when he could finally hear it. :hug:

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Specializes in ICU.

Yes. WHen you get to the morgue and see a large paper bag up on the shelf ... don't take a look. Do you really want to know? :o

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Specializes in Home Health, Long-Term Care.

I did post-mortem/cleaning as a CNA at an LTC. I was a little unnerved at first, but it was night shift, and me an another CNA were the only ones on the clock,(other than the RNs) so it was us or nobody. You do get used to it after a while.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
As an ED nurse, I have carried 5 babies wrapped in a blanket to the morgue in my arms. It all most killed me to leave them there. Our hospital was small and the morgue is distant and dark. (Are they all?) It almost killed me to leave them there.

I will never forget my first pedi death. I was working as a CNA in L&D during nursing school, and a pt delivered a baby with anencephaly. The mother did not want to see the baby, so the nurse assisting with the delivery swaddled the baby and then put him in the dirty utility room next to the sink...he was still alive. I knew that he would die within a few minutes, but I COULD NOT come to terms with just leaving this baby in a metal basin next to the sink. I asked the nurse if I could just hold the baby until he stopped breathing (she had to walk right past me when she left the dirty utility room) and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Whatever you want to do, Canes."

I held that baby for the 15 minutes it took for him to take his last breath, and I cannot put into words how difficult that was. The only peace that was bestowed upon me that day is the fact that HE WAS HELD. :redbeathe

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I held that baby for the 15 minutes it took for him to take his last breath, and I cannot put into words how difficult that was. The only peace that was bestowed upon me that day is the fact that HE WAS HELD. :redbeathe

thank you for doing that.

i fully believe it made a difference to that sweet baby.

leslie

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I will never forget my first pedi death. I was working as a CNA in L&D during nursing school, and a pt delivered a baby with anencephaly. The mother did not want to see the baby, so the nurse assisting with the delivery swaddled the baby and then put him in the dirty utility room next to the sink...he was still alive. I knew that he would die within a few minutes, but I COULD NOT come to terms with just leaving this baby in a metal basin next to the sink. I asked the nurse if I could just hold the baby until he stopped breathing (she had to walk right past me when she left the dirty utility room) and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Whatever you want to do, Canes."

I held that baby for the 15 minutes it took for him to take his last breath, and I cannot put into words how difficult that was. The only peace that was bestowed upon me that day is the fact that HE WAS HELD. :redbeathe

O. M. G. :mad: Thank you for caring about that little one- expected death or not, he deserved some comfort. :(

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I will never forget my first pedi death. I was working as a CNA in L&D during nursing school, and a pt delivered a baby with anencephaly. The mother did not want to see the baby, so the nurse assisting with the delivery swaddled the baby and then put him in the dirty utility room next to the sink...he was still alive. I knew that he would die within a few minutes, but I COULD NOT come to terms with just leaving this baby in a metal basin next to the sink. I asked the nurse if I could just hold the baby until he stopped breathing (she had to walk right past me when she left the dirty utility room) and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Whatever you want to do, Canes."

I held that baby for the 15 minutes it took for him to take his last breath, and I cannot put into words how difficult that was. The only peace that was bestowed upon me that day is the fact that HE WAS HELD. :redbeathe

I 100% agree with this. It breaks my heart when parents don't want to stay and while I can't ever imagine having to make that decision, if I am around I will at least make sure I am holding the baby as they pass.

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I will never forget my first pedi death. I was working as a CNA in L&D during nursing school, and a pt delivered a baby with anencephaly. The mother did not want to see the baby, so the nurse assisting with the delivery swaddled the baby and then put him in the dirty utility room next to the sink...he was still alive. I knew that he would die within a few minutes, but I COULD NOT come to terms with just leaving this baby in a metal basin next to the sink. I asked the nurse if I could just hold the baby until he stopped breathing (she had to walk right past me when she left the dirty utility room) and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Whatever you want to do, Canes."

I held that baby for the 15 minutes it took for him to take his last breath, and I cannot put into words how difficult that was. The only peace that was bestowed upon me that day is the fact that HE WAS HELD. :redbeathe

That is so sad I can not emagan wafting a baby die ! I just read a story about a little boy that was born like that and had just a brain stem and be is 3 now ?

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That is so sad I can not emagan wafting a baby die ! I just read a story about a little boy that was born like that and had just a brain stem and be is 3 now ?

someone correct me if i'm wrong but maybe you are thinking of encephalocele not anencephaly in the latter the child is born with missing brain, skull and scalp meaning what brain is present is completely exposed, i've known one to live a few days but not likely longer. Encephalocele is when part of the skull is missing and the brain is formed in an enclosed sac, they can live as long as their "sac" remains intact.

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I will never forget my first pedi death. I was working as a CNA in L&D during nursing school, and a pt delivered a baby with anencephaly. The mother did not want to see the baby, so the nurse assisting with the delivery swaddled the baby and then put him in the dirty utility room next to the sink...he was still alive. I knew that he would die within a few minutes, but I COULD NOT come to terms with just leaving this baby in a metal basin next to the sink. I asked the nurse if I could just hold the baby until he stopped breathing (she had to walk right past me when she left the dirty utility room) and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Whatever you want to do, Canes."

I held that baby for the 15 minutes it took for him to take his last breath, and I cannot put into words how difficult that was. The only peace that was bestowed upon me that day is the fact that HE WAS HELD. :redbeathe

Oh, dear Lord. Is that common? Because that is one of the worst things I have ever heard in my life. That cannot be OK. Yet one more reason I wouldn't work OB.

Bless your heart, and thank you for making his few moments on Earth comforting.

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