RN's Pronouncing Death

[JennyHHRN]

It is routine for our Hospice RN's to pronounce in the home, notify primary MD and funeral home (and physician signs the death certificate).

We recently hired a new executive manager who is reviewing our policy/procedure manuals and she says that only those patients on hospice may be pronounced by RN.

So what about hh patients with terminal illness, not on hospice, have DNR orders and they die in the home? New boss says state of Michigan does not allow the RN to pronounce in that case. 911 must be called to transport body to ER for pronouncement.

I cannot find anything on the the web about RN pronouncement regulations.

Please share any insight you may have on this subject......

thanks!!!!!!!!!

[Sammie]

Hi

In Mass. home care nurses do pronoucements only for

"expected death in the home" patients. They have to have

current DNRs and documentation of patient/family and MD agreement that terminal care needs will be addressed by the VNA.

This is usually for our patients who refuse hospice and/or use our pallitative care program.

We made sure we had the state law, our state nurse practice act and a current policy.

We also have Comfort Care which the MD can order from their office, the band stays on and it is respected by EMT's as a patient based DNR. Nice program for families and patients who wish to be left alone.

My grandad took a Sharpie marker and wrote DNR on his chest during his last hospital stay, he wanted to make sure "no fool doctor thumped my chest".

[deespoohbear]

Originally posted by Sammie

My grandad took a Sharpie marker and wrote DNR on his chest during his last hospital stay, he wanted to make sure "no fool doctor thumped my chest".

I actually had a patient that had it TATTOOED across her chest!! Guess it got her point across!!!