Post-Mortem care

leslie :-D · Aug 10, 2008

to reiterate what the article said, remove all valuables/jewelery and place in baggie to return to family.

i either leave dentures in or put them in.

to this day, i still cannot get eyes to fully close (after death).

i try to encourage my pts to close their eyes while they're dying, as i sit close by and stroke their hair....helps them to relax.

make sure hair is combed, nails clean, pt shaved.

place an attends/diaper on, in anticipation of urinary/fecal leakage.

when noting about valuables/jewelery removed, do not say "diamond" or "gold".

rather, write "white sparkling stone", "golden-colored band".

don't panic after pronouncing them, and you hear a long, expiratory breath.

(i screamed the first time i heard this)

i'll let you know if i think of anything else.

leslie

nightmare, RN · Aug 10, 2008

Leslie,try a wet swab and gently stroke the eye lid down.The water moistens the eye which is probably dry and helps close them.

leslie :-D · Aug 10, 2008

Leslie,try a wet swab and gently stroke the eye lid down.The water moistens the eye which is probably dry and helps close them.

i know, the article said something about moistened gauze.

i have tried everything, including swabbing the eyes down.

at best, i can get them to shut most of the way but still can see the whites of their eyes.

for many families, that's even creepier than remaining opened.

i've held the eyes shut for up to 15 minutes, still didn't work.

yes, i've even taped them shut (paper tape) and that didn't work.

maybe it has something to do with how wide-eyed these pts were when alive, and the resultant muscular structures.

but to date, unless they're sleeping/unconscious, i haven't found anything that works.

leslie

nightmare, RN · Aug 10, 2008

I know what you mean,some just will not close,I've tried leaving the wet swab on for a while as well.

Maynmom · Aug 10, 2008

The only thing I have to add is be mindful that you are handling a human being. A couple of weeks ago I assisted a newer nurse with this task and was horrified that she was just flipping this person from side to side. I was trying to lead by example and be respectful and continue to treat this person as if she were still alive. I understand this nurse may have been nervous or scared but she appeared just plain callous.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Aug 10, 2008

don't panic after pronouncing them, and you hear a long, expiratory breath.
(i screamed the first time i heard this)

i wish someone had told me about this when i started out in the field. one of my first patient deaths, after i had pronounced her, not only did she let this huge belching breath of air, her AICD fired and just about jerked and twitched every muscle in her body. i jumped out of my skin.

leslie :-D · Aug 10, 2008

i wish someone had told me about this when i started out in the field. one of my first patient deaths, after i had pronounced her, not only did she let this huge belching breath of air, her AICD fired and just about jerked and twitched every muscle in her body. i jumped out of my skin.

yep, me too.

have also had (dead) pts sit upright.

really scary w/eyes opened.

leslie

rehabhereIcome · Aug 10, 2008

Eeekkks!

nightmare, RN · Aug 10, 2008

yep, me too.
have also had (dead) pts sit upright.
really scary w/eyes opened.
leslie

No ,never had that happen.....yet!! :eek:

HM2VikingRN, RN · Aug 10, 2008

yep, me too.
have also had (dead) pts sit upright.
really scary w/eyes opened.
leslie

As in dead dead patients? Reminds me of an old horror movie....It would definitely freak me out...

APBT mom, LPN, RN · Aug 10, 2008

That was a good article. The only thing that I could add is in the area where it was talking about raising the pts head so the pooling doesn't discolor the face would be to prop the head/neck so it is lying straight. I had a pt that kept his head slumped to the side because it was the only way he was comfortable. After he passed someone removed the towel I had placed to hold his head up and this happened to his cheek.