Pronouncing patients death

[ambrosial]

Hello, I have a question. I live in California and have been looking where is says that nurses can pronounce a patients death. I know hospice nurses do, but I can't find it anywhere in the nurses board site. I work in an acute setting and a supervisor can pronounce a dnr patient. I would appreciate a link and more info. Thank you.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Here in TX a nurse can pronounce WITH a physician's order. Perhaps CA is the same.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Couldn't find a link to anything about CA RNs being able to pronounce patient death.

However, why not shoot the BRN an e-mail and ask them?

Board of Registered Nursing - Contact Information

[AJJKRN]

In our facility we have a protocol that we follow for "intentional" deaths, i.e. comfort care patients. Two nurses can pronounce. It may just be facility specific?

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Years ago, we could pronounce, but everywhere I have worked in the last decade, only a physician can, in a hospital setting, anyway. When my son passed, the hospice nurse pronounced him.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Interesting question. Last time I worked in a hospital in NYS, just two years ago, two RNs or one MD/DO could pronounce a death. I assumed it was a State legal issue....but maybe it was hospital policy?

Worth checking into.

In the first California facility in which I worked, death could be pronounced by two RNs following a set protocol. In my present California facility, it's only done by the docs.

Like so much in nursing, it's not a matter of state scope of practice but rather institutional policy and protocol.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

In our facility we have a protocol that we follow for "intentional" deaths, i.e. comfort care patients. Two nurses can pronounce. It may just be facility specific?

Intentional...shouldn't that be "expected"?

Intentional to me sounds like giving a KCl push!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Interesting question. Last time I worked in a hospital in NYS, just two years ago, two RNs or one MD/DO could pronounce a death. I assumed it was a State legal issue....but maybe it was hospital policy?

Worth checking into.

In NYS I could pronounce - RN, LTC.

[chihuahuaman]

Where I work in Canada, an RN can pronounce death provided comfort care orders have been signed by the doctor and death is expected.

This, however, has no bearing on what you can do in the facility where you work in California. Your best course would be to check your facilities policies regarding this issue.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

In NYS I could pronounce - RN, LTC.

Maybe it was just hospital policy. I would like a more definite answer, though, so I'll see if I can find it. Thanks!

[spectrabrite, LVN]

i am an lvn in hospice in ca, i have pronouced 2 in the past 48hrs. It is done by.the nurse as a order that the dr signs later like a voice order