What is your responsibilities as a Nurse when a patient dies.(Brief summary)

1. Caring for the patient’s body. After the patient has been pronounced dead by the physician.One of the responsibility of the nurse is the preparation of the body for discharge. The body of the deceased will be placed in normal anatomic position. Why is that?.To avoid pooling of blood. Spoiled clothes are replaced. Tubes are removed.From my experiences if it is a coroner case you have to wait until instructed by your charge nurse to remove the tubes because more evaluation and collection of evidence might be needed for the case. Coroner cases are deaths associated with : A.illegal practices. B.accident.C.Suicide.D Homicide.Most of the time we clean the body up very well or wash the body unless contradicated,and dress the body with a clean hospital gown or attire provided by family members.The nurse must provide support to family members.
2. Caring for patient’s family. The nurse should provide support and caring.This will include listening to their concerns. Family expression of their pain ,grief,helplessness due to their loss
3. Delivery of legal responsibility which include ensuring that a death certificate is issued and signed. Coroner case involved if needed 4.Labeling the body properly with the correct tags. The nurse is responsible for placing the tags on the great toes, the garment or shroud that the deceased wears,and the ankle. Labeled patient’s belongings including the denture,prostheses. This is to make sure that the mortician received it accurately. Review organ donation arrangements. 5.It is very important to call organ donation number recommended by your facility. 6.If mortuary arrangements were not made by late patient’s family patient’s body will be placed in the hospital morgue refrigerator. 7.If the deceased has communicable diseases arrangement will be made to handle it properly so that the disease does not spread.

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