RELATED TOPIC:
Nursing Knowledge
Postmortem care is a component of end-of-life care and is the care given to a deceased client. Nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) perform most postmortem care until the deceased client is transferred to a funeral provider.
Postmortem care involves a series of steps performed by nurses to prepare a deceased client’s body for family viewing or transfer to a mortuary.
Note: Ensure the medical examiner's office is notified of death as required by local and organizational regulations. If an autopsy is to be performed, all medical devices may need to remain in place. Document phone call, case number (if provided) and whether permission was received to remove medical devices prior to performing postmortem care.
Remember, practices may vary based on cultural, religious, or institutional policies. Always adhere to your facility's guidelines.
Key parts include:
Document the time of death, personnel notified, actions taken, belongings, and the person to whom the body was released.
Provide emotional support to the family, offer them time with the body, answer questions, and guide them to appropriate resources.
Rigor mortis, the stiffening of the body's muscles, begins a few hours after death. If it has set in, you may need to apply gentle pressure to position the body correctly. If unable to do so, do not force it to prevent tissue damage.
Some families may not want elements of postmortem care to be performed due to religious or cultural beliefs. Discuss with your supervisor and always document the refusal and any actions taken. The wishes of the family should be respected and it is good to involve a cultural liaison or religious leader, if available.
Items should be placed in a bag, labeled, inventoried, cleaned if necessary, and given to the family, following hospital policy. If the family is not present, follow the institution's procedure for storing or safeguarding belongings.
RELATED TOPIC:
Free Download
Master the topic with a unique study combination of a concise summary paired with video lectures.
USMLE™ is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB®) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®). MCAT is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN®, and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc (NCSBN®). None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Lecturio.
Your free account gives you access to:
or
