Help: Which states allow an LPN to Determine death?

guest2210 · May 8, 2015

It's the same in Ohio as it is where BrandonLPN is. I've just had to call family, MD to release body-some places even had a standing order for that-heaven forbid we would have to wake a doc up in the middle of the night, the ME if a coroner's case, and the funeral home.

RNBearColumbus, BSN · May 9, 2015

I'm also in Ohio, and LPNs are not allowed to "pronounce" death. The facility where I work also requires that a RN verify the absence of VS. ( The explanation is that doing so is an assessment, and per scope of practice, LPNs can't technically "assess", only gather information). Once the RN verifies, It's up to me as the LPN in charge of the unit to make all the needed phone calls (including the physician, who actually pronounces the death and gives the order to release the body) do the paperwork, deal with the family etc.

lpn954 · May 11, 2015

Here in FL LPN's can pronounce death. I did all the time in hospice.

kimbermccub · May 14, 2015

Hello all - I am working on a project for my DNP and need to know which states allow the LPN to "Determine" death? I know most states (if not all) do not allow LPNS to "pronounce" but I wanted to see if other states would allow an LPN (Say working for a at home hospice agency) to "determine" death of a patient without having an RN or higher "double check" to be sure the patient is actually dead.
Currently, I work for a hospice agency that employees LPNs to provide continuious care for patients that are with in 3 to 5 days of death or activly dying. When the patient does pass, the LPN has to call the on-call RN to come out and pronounce. In many instances, the patient is dead for an hour or more before I get there to say "yep - their dead!" I see no reason why an LPN can not determin death and then call either the MD or the RN and give them their findings: No Pulse, No Respiration's, No Blood Pressure. Fixed and dilated pupils, etc.
Can the group tell me if their state allows the LPN to "Determine death" and then give me your feelings about the LPN's doing so.
Thank you for all of your assistance and "Happy Nurses Week!"

I worked hospice for 5 years and 2 of those were on-call only. I was able to pronounce deaths. From Missouri LPN

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · May 14, 2015

I'm an LPN in Oregon and have worked in several different nursing homes and an assisted living facility. I have attended several deaths and been the only nurse to make the determination. My understanding is that officially, most states do not allow nurses (whether RN or LPN) to make a pronouncement, but in Oregon, nurses often obtain pronouncements via phone. In my experience, all I have had to do was call the MD for a pronouncement and write a telephone order along the lines of "Prounouncement TOD 0800" including the name of the MD. In hospice cases, I contact the hospice RN on call. He/she will usually offer to come out, but in my experience, it's often late at night and the only thing that needs to be done is getting a pronouncement and calling the funeral home and next of kin which only takes a few minutes. Of course, these have all been deaths which have been expected and the people have DNR status.

Once while working assisted living, I went to one of the independent apartments in response to a wife calling the front desk saying her husband had fallen. He was completely unresponsive, no pulse, no breathing, face down, cold, etc (i.e. dead). The wife did not know what a DNR was so I had to call 911. Firefighters showed up, coded the husband, got a pulse, and took him in. The daughters showed up at the hospital and produced a DNR and they let him go at that time. (PSA: you can never educate elderly clients enough in the importance of having living wills!!!!)

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · May 14, 2015

Oh...you wanted feelings as well...nursing is nursing and with a few exceptions, dead is dead. It's ridiculous for somebody to have to wait an hour for another person to show up and say, "Yup. Gone" just because there different amounts of letters behind the names. :)

Animal House R.N., ADN, CNA, LVN · May 15, 2015

In Texas we have to call the RN to come and pronouce:sour:

marvelmom · May 15, 2015

I'm an LPN in Kansas. I can not pronounce death however I can chart lack of vital signs, fixed pupils, etc and that so and so doctor on call pronounced death at this time. What happens is I call the doc, report my assessment, he pronounces death and gives the order to release the body verbally, I write the order for him to sign when he visits the facility which is usually less than 24 hours later. I don't need an RN or a second opinion on the matter as I am usually the only nurse in the building as I work long term care in a small facility. It might be different in a hospital, hospice, home health, etc. I've never worked in the those settings to tell you for sure.

Julius Seizure · May 21, 2015

What is supposed to be the difference in "determining" and "pronouncing" death?

andrea4_2005 · May 23, 2015

State of Indiana in a long term care we can call time of death, I'm not sure for hospice. For myself I've always had an RN come in to verify but we document it with our LPN signature on the death certificate. If it is a hospice resident in a LTC we call them and they come in and take care over. How rude of the one to respond some are hateful on all nurses. Hope this helps.

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · May 23, 2015

State of Indiana in a long term care we can call time of death, I'm not sure for hospice. For myself I've always had an RN come in to verify but we document it with our LPN signature on the death certificate. If it is a hospice resident in a LTC we call them and they come in and take care over. How rude of the one to respond some are hateful on all nurses. Hope this helps.

Agreed. I don't see why a forum should not be a legitimate resource for students. It's not asking others to do your homework for you.

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · May 23, 2015

What is supposed to be the difference in "determining" and "pronouncing" death?

I think in all practicality, it's how it appears on paper at the end of the day. Legal semantics, in other words.