Body Bags

[stellina615]

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

[LouisVRN, RN]

Our hospital uses the same thing.

[rnay312]

The ones at my facility are black and plastic. Something about black is even worse though... white would be nicer. I know what you mean, about it being impersonal, but I have no idea what could make that better.

[JDZ344]

We only use them if the patient is infectious. Otherwise, they go to the morgue wrapped in sheets, which I think is disgusting. I would much rather place a body in a bag.

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

We use sheets as well kinda looks like a mummy, we use bodybags for infrctiuos pt. the decreased is then transported on trolley to the mogue. however it ahsa upper weight limit so for large pt they have to go on the bed.

[nursing6207]

When I was a nursing assistant we left the body in the room until the funeral home came to get them. I guess if it was going to be a while before they got there then they'd have to go to the morgue. I didn't know the policy for that however. As a nurse we use the same white plastic bags. I just feel like even though I know they are dead that they know I am putting them in the bag. I don't like it either. One thing that really makes me nervous is that we are going to bag them, come out of the room to call security to come get the body and then a family memeber is going to show up to see them or walk in the room and see them bagged. That would really be a bad day!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Had full body shroud kits. We always prepared the body by removing all tubes and putting in the false teeth if they had. Then we would bathe them and also give the family a chance to help if they wanted.

This also enables the nurses to wrap the chin correctly before the rig sets and then cover the body with a white sheet. Patients were always left in the room until the morgue came.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

It seems cruel but it is important to remember that while you are placing them into a bag you can also preserve the dignity of the deceased. As long as the body is clean that is all you can do. Remember that if the patient was a victim of trauma or died within 24 hours of admission to the hospital, you need to verify with the ME regarding what you should remove from the body. There might be other circumstances that will require you to leave lines etc in the patient for ME review. Make sure all personal items are removed from the body and assure that if the patient has false teeth that they remain in the mouth. It is also imperative to remember that decomposition of the body begins to occur directly after death and it might be important to get the body into a cool environment to delay that process. I try to get the body into the morgue within 3-4 hours at the max.

[FlyingScot, RN]

I much prefer the bags. In our ER we used to only have shrouds that we tied with string. I hated that they looked like either a sausage or a trussed up turkey. Taking good care of them means treating the body respectfully and for heaven's sake make sure that they are clean, in a clean gown and clean brief. Also, if you must tie their hands together use a pair of soft restraints tied together not the tie that comes in the kit. One of my friends was horrified when she went to the funeral home only to find her husband had what looked like ligature marks on his wrists.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

we use the same morgue kits which also include the strings to tie up the limbs. They wouldn't let use use anything as cost inefficient ar soft restraints in place so i've found that a roll of kerlix does a better job and the managesr will usually go along with it. Unless of course you already had a set of soft restraints for that patient...

I will say this about the plastic shrouds - the scent of the plastic - which is also enoutntered when you get something new and vinyl (like a shower curtain or an inflatable toy) is something that i tend to associate with doing post care on a patient.

[pers]

We leave bodies in the rooms till the funeral home comes to get them. In the event that won't happen for a lengthy amount of time (distant funeral home or organ donor) we put them in the morgue but we just pull a sheet over them, they aren't wrapped in any way.

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

As long as they don't send this guy to pick up the body bags it's all good.