Post mortem care nursing

Post mortem care nursing

In certain instances, as a nursing assistant, you may find yourself in the presence of a patient who has passed away. If you suspect that a client has passed away, it is vital to promptly notify the nurse. Once the cause of death is confirmed, your assistance with post-mortem care nursing becomes necessary.

You may be required to document the time and the absence of vital signs, highlighting the critical role of post-mortem care when a patient passes away. To gain a comprehensive understanding of post-mortem care and its components, please continue reading this article.

Procedures in Post-mortem Care Nursing

The initial phase of post-mortem care nursing procedures entails a thorough external examination. Details such as the body’s weight, height, and distinctive characteristics like scars and tattoos are meticulously recorded. Subsequently, before proceeding to the internal examination, an incision in the shape of a ‘Y’ is made, extending from both shoulders to the sternum and the pubic bone.

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The subsequent stage involves the separation of subcutaneous tissues from the skin, providing access to the abdominal cavity and ribcage. To gain visibility of the organs within the neck and chest, it is imperative to remove the front part of the ribcage. At the posterior region of the head, an incision from ear to ear is made, granting access to the brain.

Following this, the skull is gently separated from the scalp and the top of the head is removed with the use of a vibrating saw. The entire brain is then carefully extracted from the cranial vault. Additionally, access to the spinal cord can be achieved by removing either the anterior or posterior spinal column. Subsequently, the pathologist conducts an initial examination of the organs, searching for any observable alterations.

Often, the organs are isolated following their removal from the body to facilitate a thorough examination for internal irregularities, including malignancies. All organs are procured in small quantities and prepared as slide specimens for microscopic analysis. Finally, after the completion of post-mortem care nursing, the incisions made in the body are meticulously sutured.

Steps in Conducting Post-mortem Care Nursing

Post-mortem care nursing encompasses various critical actions:

1. Ensuring Discretion: It is paramount to maintain the highest level of discretion throughout the procedure, preserving the dignity of the deceased.

2. Gathering Necessary Supplies: A key initial step is obtaining a death pack or assembling the requisite supplies.

3. Donning Gloves and Hand Hygiene: Prior to initiating the procedure, the wearing of gloves and meticulous hand hygiene are essential.

4. Respecting the Deceased: Respecting the deceased’s dignity, particularly in cases involving dentures, involves placing them in the mouth if feasible. Alternatively, placing them in a labeled denture cup is an acceptable practice.

5. Thorough Bed Cleaning: Adequate cleaning of the patient’s bed is imperative.

6. Dressing the Body: The deceased should be dressed in a clean gown, and a pad should be placed in the perineal area.

7. Tube and Line Evaluation: Evaluation of whether tubes or lines need removal is essential, contingent on coroner policy and instructions.

8. Wrapping in a Sheet: In accordance with regulations, the body should be enveloped in a sheet.

9. Placement in a Plastic Bag: The body should then be placed in a designated plastic bag for this purpose.

10. Identification: It is crucial to ensure proper identification through the use of tags, bracelets, or attached identification labels.

11. Transfer to a Mortuary Cart: With the assistance of colleagues, the bag should be securely sealed, the zipper tied, and the body transported to a mortuary cart.

The Role of Nurses in Post-mortem Care Nursing

In the realm of post-mortem care nursing, nurses assume multifaceted roles. These encompass providing compassionate care for the deceased in a manner that mitigates distress for the family and others present. Furthermore, nurses extend their support to the emotional needs of the deceased’s families and friends who may be profoundly affected by the circumstances of the passing.

In addition to this, nurses are responsible for managing the paperwork related to the case, including letters of request, treatment records, and files. Furthermore, nurses are tasked with meticulously recording entries in the appropriate Morgue registers, ensuring the accurate tracking of all essential information.

When circumstances necessitate DNA profiling through sample collection, nurses are adept at performing this task meticulously to avoid any potential contamination or mishandling of samples. Moreover, forensic nurses play an integral role in procuring biological evidence from crime scenes, such as blood and tissue samples, while also safeguarding critical pieces of evidence, often the victim’s clothing.

Purposes of Post-mortem Care

Post-mortem care serves distinct purposes:

1. Diagnostic Purposes:

Post-mortem care nursing fulfills a diagnostic role by offering families insights into the disease processes that culminated in the patient’s demise. It provides healthcare professionals with a valuable opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to the patient’s death.

2. Educational Purposes:

Post-mortem care also assumes an educational dimension, facilitating the learning experiences of clinicians, residents, medical students, pathologists’ assistant students, forensic science interns, and healthcare staff. These individuals can glean knowledge about disease processes and their manifestations through post-mortem examinations. Additionally, tissues obtained during post-mortem care can be harnessed for educational programs in medical schools, contributing to enhanced learning.

3. Research Purposes:

Collaboration with clinicians, enabled by the inclusion of clinician contact information, permits the post-mortem staff to coordinate tissue recovery and preservation. The tissues harvested can subsequently be employed for research purposes, furthering medical knowledge and contributing to scientific investigations.

Interventions in Post-mortem Care Nursing

In post-mortem care nursing, interventions necessitate several critical components. Nurses are required to manage their emotional responses to death effectively. This involves cultivating emotional resilience and seeking support from available resources. Additionally, nurses are encouraged to cultivate genuine empathy, a vital attribute in this context.

The Four Post-mortem Stages

The post-mortem process encompasses four distinct stages, crucial for estimating the time of death and understanding physiological changes:

1. Pallor Mortis:

The initial stage involves pallor, wherein the skin becomes paler due to the cessation of blood flow. This stage occurs rapidly, usually within 15 to 30 minutes after death. However, it is not a reliable indicator of the time of death, as it is unrelated to the body’s appearance.

2. Algor Mortis:

Algor mortis, or the reduction in body temperature after death, results from the cessation of vital processes, including heat regulation. The body gradually aligns with the surrounding ambient temperature in the absence of blood circulation and brain function.

3. Rigor Mortis:

Following an initial period of muscle flaccidity, rigor mortis sets in, causing muscle stiffening. This phase is valuable for estimating the time of death due to its predictable progression.

4. Livor Mortis:

Livor mortis pertains to the pooling of blood in specific areas of the body due to gravity following cardiac arrest. The location of these pooled areas depends on the body’s position at the time of death.

Muslim Post-mortem Care Nursing

Various cultures and faiths have distinct traditions and beliefs related to death, sometimes leading to challenges in conducting post-mortem examinations, especially in Muslim post-mortem care nursing. Traditionally, when a Muslim is near death, a reader recites verses from the Qur’an. In this context, non-Muslims are generally advised not to handle the body while family members prepare it. Post-death procedures involve closing the deceased’s eyes and straightening their limbs and legs. Autopsies and organ donation are typically not sanctioned unless mandated by legal requirements.

In Conclusion

Should you require further guidance on post-mortem care nursing, this article serves as a valuable resource. It offers comprehensive insights into the procedures involved and the multifaceted roles of nurses in the post-mortem care process.

Moreover, it elucidates the diverse purposes served by post-mortem care, including diagnostics, education, and research. Nurses play a pivotal role in maintaining professionalism and empathy while carrying out interventions in post-mortem care nursing.

Lastly, it outlines the four distinct post-mortem stages, shedding light on their significance in estimating the time of death and understanding physiological changes. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of respecting cultural and religious beliefs, such as those observed in Muslim post-mortem care nursing, and the need for sensitivity in these contexts.