Death of a pt

[LVN2010M]

While i was at clinicals i seen that Nursing Assistant are the ones that clean the dead body once they pass ?

Is this in the scope of a Nurse Assistance, & how excactly do you do it ?

[yousoldtheworld]

Yes, we do this.

To put it simply, you bathe the resident, just as if you were giving them a bedbath. You put them in a fresh gown or clothing (depending on your facility's policies), straighten their hair, and make sure they are lying in a natural position.

It is really weird at first, and usually sad...but it isn't as big of a deal as you expect it to be before your first time.

[nightmare, RN]

Personally I always like to do it,with an assistant.It is the last thing you ever do for them,especially if you have been caring for them for a long time.It is your final goodbye to them.

[Atheos]

Indeed. I feel that when you 'fix them up' for the last time, especially when it's a resident you've bonded with it is a chance to say your last goodbye.

It really makes you feel good to be able to do it. It is saddening at the same time but you'll see that people insist on doing this for those they've bonded with.

I can't really explain it... Kinda like nightmare said. The last you can do for someone. A last gesture of respect and love and kindness.

[rancelumsden]

Bit different in hospital than LTC. We too would do a basic cleaning of the patient and usually put on a new gown (when someone dies, including animals, bodily fluids come out). Gown wasn't required, but we did it out of respect.

Additionally, we had to toe tag (like you see on TV shows in the morgue scenes) and put the patient in a body bag which was also tagged. In our hospital, someone from the morgue would actually transport the body as opposed to the CNA's taking it down (don't know if that varies in other hospitals).

We also did a short room search to ensure we had all the persons' possessions. Forgot --- also searched the body to ensure we had personal possessions too (rings, necklace). Some patients would be clutching an item such as a cross which we would retrieve.

I worked in an Oncology unit, so deaths occurred quite often. Just remember, death is the final act of life. Be accepting and respectful and it will not be daunting.

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

it varies from facility to facility. where i've worked it's been very similar... you clean and prepare the body for family viewing, then when the family leaves, you place the body into a morgue shroud and put a toe tag on the patient and then two on the outside of the bag. then transport to the morgue.

something to keep in mind is when you are preparing the body to make them look like you would want to see your family member. i have mainly worked ER and have seen nurses and techs leave bodies with alot of blood and feces and such on them. sometimes it is not possible to make them look perfect, but presentable. sometimes tubes, dressings and lines are left in place if the body is going to the coroner, but most of the time a nurse will remove them. maintaining respect for the deceased is really important.

i personally like to take the extra time and ask the family to step out (some like to help with the cleansing of the body though, and thats ok too!) and comb hair, clean the body, put on a fresh gown and attempt to close the eyes and jaw. sometimes it is not possible with the mouth. then dim the lighting and fold the hands nicely. it only takes a few minutes but it is a lovely gesture to make the patient look like they are sleeping. alot of people have not seen a dead body outside of a casket and it is their first time seeing one.

it is a subject sensitive to me which is why i am rambling. i am a medic/nurse and have seen hundreds of dead bodies but i will never forget going to the hospital where my boyfriend in college died and they left him a bloody mangled mess. it took me and his family over 30 mins to get there so they had time to clean him up since he was a DOA. i was totally angry about it.

and one more thing i remember that i wish someone had told me.... after people die, sometimes they make a gaspy noise sometimes as that last breath of air in their lungs is expelled. it is normal but it scared the bejeezus out of me the first time it happened.

[nightmare, RN]

My first action is always to get the teeth in and try and set the jaw to look natural.Sometimes,if they have not had their teeth in for a while the gums shrink and the teeth just do not look good!While washing and changing them I try and adjust jaw every now and again so that,when rigor finally sets in ,the jaw is as natural as I can make it.

I always leave on a garment(pad) as well to catch any leakages after death.Sometimes they purge just before and after death and this is not pleasant at all but needs to be cleaned up for the relatives coming to view.

Hands are usually laid flat at either side so that when rigor sets in they are not 'set' across chest.I ,personally ,always put a flower on their chests and never cover their faces.Again, this is a personal thing but I know several other nurses that also do not cover the face.

[Kim8501]

I just recently took the CNA 1 course here in N.C. & on my very 1st day of clinicals we had a patient to code. It truly wasn't as bad as I imagined it to be. It was very solemn, but of course that is expected. We bathed, straightened, tagged & shrouded the body & went with the transporter to the morgue where we placed him inside the cooler. We did it with dignity & it left us with a good feeling in knowing he was shrouded with respect.

[princezzzz]

thats my hatest thing as part of cna.. i mean when one of your patient dies...

ive tried to clean them but i just really cant... i just keep crying..

and im just gratefull with my co-workers who are always ready to help me.

actually... i cant' forget those resident who died...

they're not just residents for me... but they're special...

i hate it when i get closed with a resident.. cuz they're becoming so special to me.

[evie119]

OH WOOOOWWW!!! Please tell me that Im not going to be in this situation during my 4 days of clinicals.. I'm sure that eventually, I will be faced with this, but Im so nervous about things as it is..

[redhead04073]

No, not necessarily. I've worked LTC as a new CNA for the last six months and haven't done it yet, but I admit I would like to.

[Helen27]

oh my gosh i'm getting ready to star my CNA couse but i don't like to see dead people. i think it so scary i don't know what to do to get rid of this fear. any advise? thank you