Nursing

Caring for the Dead

EMKF

  1. Lay the body supine and straighten their limbs (unless this is not possible).
  2. Remove any clothing from the body and pack personal possessions.
  3. Clean the body. Pay particular attention to the face and hands.
  4. Body bag (optional): During the cleaning process, I like to log roll the deceased and place an opened body bag under them.
  5. Close the eyes. Sometimes the deceased eyes may be open or partially open.
  6. Clean the mouth.
  7. Try to make the patients hair tidy and in their preferred style.
  8. Dress in a clean gown.
  9. Position the body.
  10. Prepare the environment.
  11. After initially bringing the family to the deceased and spending some time settling them into this experience, it may be useful to withdraw to the background.

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Evidence-Based Nursing or Rubbish?

EMKF

  • Patients experiencing hypotension and shock should be placed in Trendelenburg position to improve blood flow to the heart and brain. True or False?
  • Auscultating the abdomen while injecting air through a gastric feeding tube is a reliable way to ensure proper tube placement. True or False?
  • To reduce aspiration risk, healthy preoperative adults who are undergoing elective procedures should be N.P.O. after midnight. True or False?
  • Evidence-supported indications for inserting an indwelling urinary catheter include major trauma, bladder irrigation, and comfort care for terminally ill patients. True or False?