Post Mortem Care Flashcards
which can be provided in the home and in health care facilities,
involves caring for a deceased patient’s body with sensitivity and in a manner that is consistent
with the patient’s religious or cultural beliefs.
Postmortem care,
(relaxation of the facial muscles, difficulty speaking,
difficulty swallowing, gradual loss of the gag reflex, decreased activity of the
gastrointestinal tract, possible urinary and rectal incontinence, diminished body
movement);
Loss of muscle tone
(diminished sensation, mottling and cyanosis of the
extremities, cold skin, slower and weaker pulse, decreased blood pressure);
Slowing of the circulation
(rapid, shallow, irregular or abnormally slow
respirations, noisy breathing, mouth breathing, dry oral mucous membranes); and
Changes in respiration
(blurred vision, impaired sense of taste and smell).
Sensory impairment
are cessation of the apical pulse, respirations,
and blood pressure
traditional clinical signs of death
In 1968, the ____________________ adopted the following guidelines for health care
providers as indications of death:
NCM 103: Fundamentals of Nursing USI Vincentian Learning Module
Skills Module 12: Postmortem Care Page 2
Total lack of response to external stimuli;
No muscular movement, especially during breathing;
No reflexes; and
A flat encephalogram (brain waves).
World Medical Assembly
is cerebral death or higher brain death, which occurs when
the higher brain center, the cerebral cortex, is irreversibly destroyed. In this case, there
is “a clinical syndrome characterized by the permanent loss of cerebral and brainstem
function, manifested by absence of responsiveness to external stimuli, absence of cephalic
reflexes, and apnea. An isoelectric electroencephalogram for at least 30 minutes in the
absence of hypothermia and poisoning by central nervous system depressants supports
the diagnosis”
Another definition of death is
TRUE OR FALSE Nurses need to ensure that the client is treated with dignity, that is, with honor and
respect. Helping clients die with dignity
TRUE
Some choices that clients can make are the
location of care, times of appointments
with health professionals, activity schedule, use of health resources, and times
of visits from relatives and friends.
a medical examination of dead body in order to find out the cause of
death.
autopsy
A person trained in case of the dead.
Mortician/undertaker:
A large piece or cotton material used to enclose a body after death.
o Shroud:
Stiffening of body 2–4 hours after death
o Rigor mortis:
Decrease of body temperature
Algor mortis:
Discoloration in dependent areas
Livor mortis:
The nurse collects data in accordance with desired outcomes.
Listen to client’s reports of feeling in control of the environment surrounding death
Observe client’s relationships
Listen to client’s thoughts, feelings related to hopelessness, powerlessness
Evaluation
Body is free of new skin damage.
Significant others provided the opportunity to express grief.
Expected Outcomes
A family member or significant other is immobilized by grief and has difficulty functioning.
A grieving person is agitated and threatens to strike out or strikes out against others.
Lacerations, bruises, or abrasions are noted on the body. Positioning or preparation of the
body results in skin injury.
Unexpected Outcomes
Arrange for family members, especially parents, to be with the child throughout the
dying process and at the time of death, if they wish.
Allow family members to hold their child’s body after death.
Make every effort to honor family members’ requests per the organization’s practice.
Family members of deceased newborns may want a memento of their infant (picture,
article of clothing, footprint, or lock of hair).
PEDIATRIC CONSIDERATIONS
Consider that some older adults have small families and small circles of surviving
friends. Health care team members may be the only human presence during death.
Arrange for someone to be with the person when death is imminent.
OLDER ADULT CONSIDERATIONS
Consider the type of support family members need at the time of death and assist
with arrangements.
After death in the home setting, follow the organization’s practice for body preparation
and transfer and for disposal of durable medical equipment (e.g., tubing, needles, and
syringes), soiled dressings or linens, and medications.
Instruct family members regarding safe and proper handling and disposal of medical
waste.
HOME CARE CONSIDERATIONS
People prefer a quiet place for death. Incense may be used. When
the person has died, cover the body with a cotton sheet. Leave the deceased’s
mouth and eyes open. Others should not touch the body. Maintain strict silence
after death. Autopsy and organ donation are permitted.
Buddhism.
denominations have varying practices at time of death.
Bible texts may be read near or at the time of death. Protestants receive the
sacraments of Holy Communion or sometimes baptism. Roman Catholics often
request sacraments of Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Communion at the
end of life. Many Christian groups offer prayers and anointing and view death as
“going home” to Jesus. There are no prescribed rituals for body preparation, and
in most cases, autopsy and organ donation are usually permissible.
Christianity.
