Dead bodies?

[relgis15]

Last night we had four codes. All of them ended badly (Patients died). One of my functions is to bring the bodies to the morgue, and this was my first time handling a dead person. I had to tag them and put them in a bag etc. I'll be honest, it gave me the creeps. I was acting like it didn't bother me, but on the inside I was a wreck. I hate to say it but the more people that died last night, the easier the job became. The real hospital is nothing like Grey's Anatomy makes it seem lol

[kool-aide, RN]

Did you have to double 'em up in the coolers? lol Inappropriate, I know. lol

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Oh, dear Lord. Is that common? Because that is one of the worst things I have ever heard in my life. That cannot be OK. Yet one more reason I wouldn't work OB.

Bless your heart, and thank you for making his few moments on Earth comforting.

There are more combinations of defects possible in a child than you can ever imagine. I value the time I worked pedi, but I wasn't prepared for the babies needing livers- so glow in the dark yellow-green skin, without half of their limbs, and ambiguous genatalia, and the screams from the rooms where the docs told the parents there was nothing else that could be done. In the time I worked pedi, there were many more kids with congenital/prematurity issues than "healthy" kids coming in for tonsillectomies or post-MVA. Then the abuse kids- OY. Another thread- but yeah- it's not a shock to lose a baby- but it's always horrendous.

[NewAggieGrad09]

I am TERRIFIED of dead bodies....which I can attribute to my love for horror movies. Even at funerals, I am silently screaming in my head "Get me the hell away from this casket!" when I walk up to view the body. I have touched two of my friends in their caskets, but all that kissing and stuff I have seen people do at funerals is a tad too much. Luckily, I haven't had to do any post-mortem care (knocks on wood...HARD!). I would definitely need someone else with me and to take the body down to the morgue, because I am very jittery.

[exnavygirl-RN]

:crying2:

As an ED nurse, I have carried 5 babies wrapped in a blanket to the morgue in my arms. It all most killed me to leave them there. Our hospital was small and the morgue is distant and dark. (Are they all?) It almost killed me to leave them there. The very worst one for me was a 5 year old boy. He was deaf. He and his hearing brother and sister (were staying with their great grandmother. She popped them some popcorn. Put in a movie for them to watch, and went into other parts of the house. He made some funny noises, but they didn't really pay attention because he made a lot of funny noises, remember he was deaf.

By the time the grand mother got back he was blue. Choked to death on an unpopped kernal of popcorn that he couldn't get out. It swelled up and blocked his airway. I carried him so carefully and talked and sang to him. It still breaks my heart. It's been about 5 years.

Just my thoughts. This post made me think about it. I am crying.

[exnavygirl-RN]

I have A LOT of experience preparing bodies for the morgue. As mentioned by others, I talk to the resident while I'm cleaning them. It does help.

I work long term care and Hospice for the VA. Many of our residents have been here several years. When they pass away it is especially hard on me but I find some comfort in knowing they trusted me and knew I was there for them. Our residents tend to die in 3's. The rule of 3 is like clock work here. Sometimes we lose 3 in one day or 3 in a week.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Usually security brings the bodies down, but there have been times that the perfect storm will occur and security will be tied up and I have to bring them down to the morgue when i'm wearing my ADN hat. 4 codes in one night can be a bit daunting, though.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Here is where my ED nurse kicks in.......

I think "Holy Moly! What the heck are they doing???" and then I think........"Honey it's not the dead ones I worry about....it's the living for they are they ones that will hurt you.....":smokin:...

I have worked at places that we have to bag them for the morgue and I worked at places where the funeral home comes to the room and takes the patient right from the room. Every time I have to place someone hands together in the bag I just can't tie them:uhoh3:.....so I cushion their wrists with a wash cloth and gently use tape:o. I can;t stand the thought of tying someone up......at least without their participation:rolleyes:....see there goes the EDRN again.

On a serious note....I agree the most difficutl are the little ones....I always get creeped out if there is a little one in the morgue when I open the door.......

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

Oh dear Lord why did I read this this morning? I'm crying now I had a stillborn 9 years ago. I pray my nurse was as loving to him as I could have been♥

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Oh dear Lord why did I read this this morning? I'm crying now I had a stillborn 9 years ago. I pray my nurse was as loving to him as I could have been♥

:hug: I am soooo sorry for your loss.......:hug:. I am sure your nurse loved your baby and cared for your baby with all the attention and love a newbon deserves. My prayers for your heart to not be so sad...:redpinkhebecause I know it will never go away.:hgu:

[DroogieRN]

There are more combinations of defects possible in a child than you can ever imagine. I value the time I worked pedi, but I wasn't prepared for the babies needing livers- so glow in the dark yellow-green skin, without half of their limbs, and ambiguous genatalia, and the screams from the rooms where the docs told the parents there was nothing else that could be done. In the time I worked pedi, there were many more kids with congenital/prematurity issues than "healthy" kids coming in for tonsillectomies or post-MVA. Then the abuse kids- OY. Another thread- but yeah- it's not a shock to lose a baby- but it's always horrendous.

Oh, I am sure of that. It's all so heartbreaking. I was referring specifically to just leaving the live baby in the dirty utility. That horrifies me.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Oh, I am sure of that. It's all so heartbreaking. I was referring specifically to just leaving the live baby in the dirty utility. That horrifies me.

This baby was expected to be stillborn. The nurse that assisted in the delivery was focusing on the care of the parents, which I understand. They were heartbroken and the mother was almost in hysterics. Reality can be quite ugly when it comes knocking on the door.

It DID horrify me that the nurse didn't think twice about leaving this baby swaddled in a bath blanket and placed in a metal basin next to the sink. It was standard practice to leave POC/stillborns in the dirty utility room, but by some miracle, this baby was still breathing.

I understood that the baby wouldn't live but for a few minutes. However, I couldn't come to terms with how WRONG it felt to let a living baby expire next to a sink in a metal basin. While I held this baby, I felt an immediate and powerful sense of the world sitting down and being still for just a minute. The nurse was busy, I wasn't paged, and no other staff members came into the dirty utility room. It was simply QUIET.

That baby provided me some much needed education and understanding that day. The experience made me realize that no matter how busy we are in our practice, taking the time to respectfully, peacefully, and gracefully hold another during and after TOD is one of the hardest, yet most giving acts that we do in our profession.

[rainbowskin]

When ill ones die that I have been caring for I think, thank god. And I am not religious. I just like the idea of them being relieved of their suffering. If anyone is used to this work, you understand the decline is not fun for them and when they finally let go a peace sets in.