My pt dies on me in clinicals... and.

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Specializes in ER Trauma.

Well, my pt today had colorectal cancer which had metastasized to essentially every major organ. Death was inevitable... but this isn't why I am starting this thread... In my ward the standing nurse and student need to wrap up the pt to be sent down to the coroner. Aside from being shocked from the pt dying I had to also suffer wrapping him up. While wrapping the pt up something really freaky and interesting happened. While I was crossing his arms the dead pt pushed my hands off him and turned his head. I literally jumped out of my scrubs as well as the other staff nurse. No, this wasn't those regular reflex things, but more like a " get your hands off me" kind of thing. Naturally, I was a little freaked out and grossed out by the fact that I had to remove his colostomy bag, as well as his JP... After my staff nurse and I composed ourselves we continued wrapping the pt. and guess what happens.. the freaken dead pt flips his whole arm out of the bag as we were closing it. And yes... we did check for a pulse and to our surprise he was still dead. Sorry to bother you all, but I felt like venting or something. :banghead:

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Seeing as I had my first post mortem care tonight, and it was a very similar situation...all I can say is I'm right there with you (he wasn't my patient, though...). After we were done, I nearly passed out and then vomited. The RN with me told me it will get better with time, and that she'll make sure I get to do all PM care in the future so I can get used to it. Sigh.

But it's really freaky when the body moves around on it's own like that. It's all normal and natural, but it's still pretty freaky.

I'm right there with ya...I'm just hoping there're no nightmares.

Best-

Noni

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Having to care for a patient post mortem is always difficult, especially your first. My first experience I kept waiting for them to move, breath, speak etc. It does "easier" to deal with though. It's especially hard when you have been working with them for a long time. But at least you know you provided them with the best possible care.

Hope you have a better nite

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Specializes in ER Trauma.

haha thanks a lot. yeah. we don't get much of these in mississippi, but heck some entertainment.

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I understand how you feel...when i did my first post mortem care as a CNA, i did the same thing. I had to make sure the pt was really dead. I also believe in spirits, and the lights started flickering while i was dressing the pt. It certainly does get 'easier' the more you do it. I hate to do it, but the body still needs to be presentable.

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It can be very difficult as the others have said. I work as a PCT and it was very hard to do my first, I was attached to the patient and I was up for days thinking about him. Working in the ICU we have to do a fair amount of post mortem care. I would not say it gets easier but you are not freaked out about it as much.

I am scared to do it at times but the reason I believe is because I am not comfortable with my own mortality.

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Wow, that is freaky! I'm still in my first semester, so I haven't come across the post-mortem care yet, but I know for sure that would make me jump about a mile in the air. I may be in the minority here, but I'm actually looking forward to doing post-mortem care. I think it would be interesting. Just as I would love to witness an autopsy. One of our nursing instructors told us last semester she was able to get 4 students in to witness an autopsy, and I just think that would be the coolest thing. I guess I'm a little gruesome. lol :D

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I was working with a grad nurse when she had to do her first post mortem. On the way into the room, I grabbed her arm and said "dead bodies make noises". She didn't believe me, and the other nurse with us told its true, they do. She wasn't sure if we were pulling her leg or not, but when we rolled this rather large man onto his side to get the shroud under him, he wheezed out a loud groan. She jumped and looked at us wide eyed, and said "I AM SO GLAD YOU WARNED ME!". :p

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Just wondering how you're doing? Despite my fear that I was going to have nightmares, I haven't, at least not yet. I will say I'm taking a lot of good natured teasing from my colleagues, but that's to be expected. LOL.

Hope you're handling it well.

Best-

Lovin' Learning

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Specializes in LTC.

Wow I probably would of passed out or something. I did hospice once as an aide and will NEVER do it again. I'm petrified of even being alone with a dead person for more than 20 minutes by myself. I remember when the pt. died and the nurse was like okay clean em up, and she left the room, I immediately left right behind her and pleaded with her to help me clean the patient and get the room ready for the family. It was just this particular man that looked like he should of starred in a horror film !

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

The worst thing I have seen was a patient who died from metastatic cancer (upper airway) and in the intestines.

He ended up dying from sepsis when his bowel perforated from the mets.

He was dead for about 6 hours before we did PM care. When we rolled him on his side to put him in the body bag,

a 'waterfall' of fluids (stool, bile, etc) came out of his nose, mouth, and trach. It went ALL over the floor, linens,

etc. It was absolutely the worst thing I have EVER experienced. Poor man. He was only 60 y/o when he died and suffered

terribly.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

OMG!!!! I've been working Critical Care for over twenty years and have never had a dead person flop about on thier own- AAAUUGGHHHH!!! That is just plane SPOOKY!. Thanks for the story.

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