I don't like dead people

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2011

When I started nursing I had never seen or been near a dying person it was a huge fear.

So as a student nurse a more experienced student nurse (we did 3 yrs hospital training in those days) asked me if I had ever seen a dead person and I said no so she took me into a room and then for the very first time I saw a dead patient it was so un frightening and as pleasant as experience as one can have in such a situation. I realised there was nothing to be frightened off and have never been afraid since at work. That was in 1989

But when my sister died in 1996 when I saw her laid out in her coffin I have never ever had such a horrible experience in all my life-not even when she died infront of me!

lrobinson5 · Feb 21, 2011

I have been scared of this happening ever since I saw Dawn of the Dead. I know it's silly, but that movie scared the hell out of me. I guess it doesn't help that the main character was an RN :crying2:

leslie :-D · Feb 21, 2011

Maybe it would be to my advantage during my orientation to ask to help with post mortem care IF the situation arises with another RN's patient. Maybe to get a little more used to the idea.
yes, seeing dead family members, blue, especially parents when you're a child is disturbing in my opinion and experience.

honey, you're normal.

don't let anyone tell you differently.

i've been working inpt hospice for yrs, and to this day, there are certain types of corpses i don't like to look at.

yet, i couldn't bring myself to cover their faces....that's my hangup, i suppose.

if you can get an opportunity to do some post-mortem care, then yes, go for it.

keep on reminding yourself, that you are only dealing with the physical shell of this person...

and that their soul/spirit, has traveled on.

while you may never 'like' it, you will get used to it, if done enough.

much luck to you....you'll do fine.

leslie

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2011

Many things we do as nurses are influenced by our life experiences that shape and develop who we are. It is perfectly normal to be creeped out with post mortem care especially when we are uncomfortable with death and the idea of death as a whole. Our jobs as nurses sometimes requires us to out aside our personal feelings for the benefit of the patient or their family. "Feeling" something in nursing is imperative....If you ever stop "feeling" then you need to leave nursing. Post mortem care varies state to state facility to facility. I NEVER "performed" post mortem care until I moved to the Northeast and I still refuse to tie the wrists and feet....I use wash cloths over the extremities and tape. I still hate placing someone in a plastic bag. When I lived in the midwest we just left them in bed or on the gurney after they were bathed and the funeral home came right away to get the patient.

My suggestion is at first let someone know how you feel. Your charge nurse or supervisor or someone you've become close with on the floor to go with you. Take someone you trust with you.......I have always treated them as If they were in a coma. I talk to them and tell them what I am doing and explain what is comming next.....just as I would if they were alive. When I am done I say my own goodbye and leave the room. If you cry, cry......if you need a hug ask for one. If someone makes fun of you rmemeber they aren't your friend. I bet your Mom is very proud of you.........xo

07302003, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2011

After I graduated nursing school I was still on my orientation and had the chance to do post mortem care with another RN and orientee. That helped get over the initial shock of being up close and personal with a dead body.

In over 4 years I've done a lot, but I agree that it should ideally be done with another person. (if you turn the body over and there's a noise, if helps to have another person in the room!) But you become somewhat desensitized, while still treating the body with respect.

There's an art to preparing the body for the family. It's your last gift to the patient and the family. You need to do it quickly, especially if family is waiting. I try to take IV's out of the hands, if they don't have some kind of coagulopathy. Wash the hands and face well, they are what people touch. Quick oral care with minty sponges. Tidy up hair. Clean up any stool. Take out NGT's and the ET tube if they're vented. Put DOWN all siderails, head on a pillow. Raise head of bed slightly. Hands and arms should be exposed. Clean blanket on top. As much garbage out of the room as possible - pull the bag of garbage out. Get extra chairs.

In our facility, family has 2+ hours to say last goodbyes, we are flexible if people are coming from far. Then we do final post mortem care and transport to the morgue.

Dealing with death is not the most pleasant thing, and honestly gave me nightmares the first few times. But you get used to it. And consider yourself lucky if death was expected, it never ceases to be heartbreaking when it's a young person.

Take Care!

KarmaWiseRaven · Feb 21, 2011

Well you and i are in the same boat You don't like Dead People and they are a way of life something we need to deal with. And i on the other hand see Dead People and they don't seem to leave me alone. So now who is worst off You the OP who doesn't like or is worried about post-mortem care. Or i who gets told about the post-mortem care someone preforms on them. You decide and let me know. These are my thoughts use them as you wish

leslie :-D · Feb 21, 2011

...and another piece of advice.

NEVER be afraid to advocate for your pt, dead or alive, if you witness him/her being treated with disrespect.

i had a pt die, and a man from the morgue came in to take the deceased away.

(normally there are 2 people).

when i offered to help him, he insisted he was fine, and could manage himself.

i didn't push it, since this pt was extremely thin and frail.

well, imagine my surprise, when i see him hoisting her over his shoulder!!

it didn't even dawn on me, that he hadn't come with a stretcher, and i was mortified.

although i didn't want to make a scene in the facility, my voice was loud when i commanded he place her back on the bed, go get the stretcher, and WE would transfer her together.

i reported him, and this funeral home heard a ration of crap from our director.

so please, speak up if you observe acts that disparage the deceased.

that, to me, would be our final act of kindness.

leslie

Gjertson · Feb 21, 2011

The way I have dealt with this in the EMS world is, that the person is dead whether you are there or not, and just do the best job you can.

MissBrahmsRN · Feb 21, 2011

look at your facilities policies. we are not allowed to remove anything from someone who has passed away. restraints, tubes, IVs, you name it etc we are to leave on/in, we do clean them and get the room as nice as we can but that's about it. i can't remember why, i think it has to do with the medical examiners, honestly very few people pass away on our unit we usually send them to the regular floors which are quieter & more peaceful for the family.

and omg, i cannot believe that someone would HOIST a deceased person like they are a sack of flour, have some respect!!! :down:

Butterfly0328 · Feb 21, 2011

IMG!! God bless you for speaking up. I have one more pre req class to take before applying for an ADN program. I have no idea why I have never thought about post mortum care, but I don't anticipate any huge issues with it as I truly believe they are in a better place. The only thing I am really dreading are the children. Anyway, thank you so much for all you do.:redpinkhe

Butterfly0328 · Feb 21, 2011

Dummy me forgot to quote the previous post. I meant to quote the post by Leslie.

pajoopie1 · Feb 22, 2011

I also cover the patient's face. And I usually put the TV on too.

If you do have a death, just tell someone that you are worried about it. I'm sure another nurse would do it with you. And if you need someone to do it for you, just ask. Your co-workers will probably do the first one for you if you need.