Sign on room when pt dies for no more svcs. in room/ courtesy sign - do you have one?

[deweydecimal13501]

Hello everyone,

This is a request from one of the nursing administrators at the hospital where I work. I am the librarian here and am researching this for her. I really hope you all share your knowledge and information with her. I appreciate your time reading this.

She would like to know:

When a patient passes, a notification (sign) is put on the room to let other staff and other service providers know that services are no longer needed. This is courtesy signage. It also allows the family some time in the room. We would like to know what this signage looks like at other facilities. We did hear that one hospital used a picture of a tree.

What type of signage is your facility using in this type of situation? Does it have wording on it? Would you be willing to share a picture of your sign or at least a description?

Do you have a contact person we could talk to?

Thank-you in advance for you help,

Deweydecimal13501 (Halyna)

[email protected]

[AvaRose]

The hospital I did clinicals at had a beautiful picture of a tree with sunlight streaming through the branches that they used on L&D when a baby passed away. It also said Do Not Disturb at the bottom. I didn't see any special signs for adult patients that passed though that would be a good idea.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

Ours uses a picture of a white dove.

[deweydecimal13501]

Thank-you so much everyone for responding to my question. The answers are very helpful and exactly what the nursing administrator is looking for. Please keep them coming. I will be checking back for a few more days just in case anybody else wants to respond.

Deweydecimal13501 :)

[Julius Seizure]

I can't remember what our sign was. A tree? I think its helpful to have it say "Do not disturb". The generic, "See the nurse before entering" sign doesn't seem to cut it - I guess its become so common that people (staff) sometimes disregard it, but nobody disregards the "This person died" sign.

I've heard from family members who have had people accidentally come in after their family people has died - dietary, PT, RT (without knowing)....it is something they remember about the experience and while it doesn't "ruin" it, it is definitely something that they remember and would be better if it could be avoided.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I've only heard of this on postpartum floors. At the hospital where I did my maternity clinicals, they put a leaf with a falling raindrop on the door if a baby had died.

Something similar would be a great idea for adults. My mother-in-law died in a rehab hospital, and as the family cried in the room, an employee walked in with some equipment. I also worked in a nursing home where a resident's body got lost. That place had stickers for lots of things, but nothing for "dead resident in room."

[Fiona59]

White Rose photograph on the door with a check at the nursing station notice.

Adult acute care in Canada.

[deweydecimal13501]

Thank-you, thank-you, and thank-you. Awesome responses to my question. My nursing administrator was very happy when I showed her these responses.

I can't tell you enough how appreciative I am of this group, your knowledge, and your responses.

Deweydecimal13501 :)

Until next time....

This question is closed for further responses.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

We had a sign of a bright, reddish-orange sunset over the ocean that we placed on the door.