Post-mortem care

As a nursing assistant, sometimes you might be present when one of your clients dies. In this case, you should let the nurse know right away if you think the client has died. You could be asked to document the absence of vital signs and the time.

In addition, death needs to be legally confirmed by a physician or nurse authorized to pronounce the person’s death. The time of death appears on the individual’s death certificate.

Now, after death has been determined, you need to assist the nurse in giving post-mortem care. Post-mortem care is how the client’s body is cared for after their death.

Sometimes, cultural or religious beliefs can dictate how the body should be cared for. Post-mortem care is crucial in order to maintain respect and dignity of the person who has died and to keep the body in proper alignment.

This is important to do before rigor mortis sets in, which is the stiffening of skeletal muscles, and it occurs within two to four hours after death.

Once this happens, it’s difficult to reposition the body. One more thing to keep in mind is that gas trapped in the GI tract can be released when repositioning or moving the body, leading to sighs or moans coming from the deceased client.

This is a natural process, and there’s no need to be afraid. Sometimes, an autopsy needs to be done in order to confirm the cause of the individual’s death. An autopsy is the examination of the individual’s organs and tissues after death.

When performed, medical devices, like tubes, drains, catheters, and IV lines, should not be removed. When an autopsy will not be performed, all these devices can be removed as part of post-mortem care.

Before anything else, the skin needs to be cleaned of mucus, urine, feces, or other fluids. That’s because bodily fluids may be infectious, even after death.

Then, the body is placed in proper alignment before rigor mortis sets in. To best assist with post-mortem care, you need some information from the nurse.

First, you need to know if the dentures are inserted or placed in a denture cup. Then, you need to know if there are any tubes, dressing, drains, or rings worn by the client that should be removed or left in place.

Next, you need to be aware of special agency policies and procedures. Lastly, you need to know if the family wants to see the deceased.

Moving on: We are going to talk about how to give proper post-mortem care. In order to do this, you need a post-mortem kit that contains the following items: tags; plastic bags for personal belongings; gauze pads; safety pins; ties; a chin strap; and a shroud or sheet, which is a covering used to wrap the body of an individual that has died.

Apart from this, you’ll need gloves, a comb, paper towels, a bath blanket, cotton balls, washcloths, bed protectors, towels, clean gowns, a wash basin, clean linens, and soap if necessary. Remember to treat the body with the same dignity as you would a living client.

Okay, before anything else, you’ll need to cover the over-bed table with paper towels, and then you can place your supplies on it.

Then, make sure that the bed is positioned at a comfortable working height and that the wheels are locked. Also, lower the head of the bed so that it’s flat.

Wash your hands and put on gloves. Next, turn off any medical equipment as instructed. Place the body in the supine position with arms and legs straight.

Then, place a pillow under the head and shoulders or just raise the head of the bed 15 to 20 degrees. Afterwards, undress the body and cover it with the bath blanket.

Gently close the individual’s eyelids. If they won’t stay closed, place some moist cotton balls over the eyelids. If the individual has an artificial eye, then this should remain in place unless you are given other instructions.