Post Mortem Care Nursing
In the role of a nursing assistant, you might witness a patient’s passing. If you believe the patient has passed away, immediately inform a nurse. Once the cause of death is determined, your responsibility extends to providing post mortem care nursing.
Recording Vital Information: Sometimes, you’ll need to note the time and absence of vital signs after a patient’s passing. The care given after death is crucial. Continue reading to learn about post mortem care and its components.
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Procedures for Post Mortem Care Nursing
The first step in post mortem care nursing involves a thorough external examination. This includes noting the body’s weight, height, and distinctive marks like scars and tattoos. An incision in the shape of a Y is made from both shoulders to the sternum and the pubic bone.
The subsequent step involves separating the subcutaneous tissues from the skin to access the abdominal cavity and rib cage. To view the organs in the neck and chest, the front of the rib cage is removed. A cut from ear to ear at the back of the head grants access to the brain.
The brain is detached and moved forward, separating it from the skull. The top of the head is then removed using a vibrating saw. The brain is gently taken out from the cranial vault. Access to the spinal cord is achieved by removing either the front or back of the spinal column. Initial organ examination by the pathologist seeks evident changes.
Following removal, organs are often separated and examined for internal abnormalities like tumors. Organs are sampled and prepared on slides for microscopic inspection. After post mortem care nursing, the incisions are stitched up.
Steps for Performing Post Mortem Care Nursing
Post mortem care nursing includes preparing the body for the family, arranging transport to the Morgue, and handling the patient’s belongings. Ensuring the deceased’s solitude is also part of the care.
Common Nutritional Deficiency for Nursing Students
Typically, post mortem care begins once a doctor confirms death. In cases of violent or questionable deaths, post mortem care might be delayed until a medical examiner completes their assessment. The following steps outline post mortem care nursing:
1. Maintain discretion throughout the process.
2. Gather necessary supplies.
3. Put on gloves and wash hands.
4. Gently close the eyes.
5. Place dentures in the patient’s mouth if applicable.
6. If not possible, store dentures in a labeled denture cup.
7. Thoroughly clean the bed.
8. Position a pad in the perineal area and dress the body in a clean gown.
9. Check coroner policies before removing any tubes or lines.
10. Wrap the body in a sheet as per guidelines.
11. Place the body in a designated plastic bag.
12. Attach identification to the body.
13. Zip and secure the bag with the help of colleagues.
14. Transfer the body to a mortuary cart.
The Nurse’s Role in Post Mortem Care Nursing
This section discusses the nurse’s responsibilities in post mortem care. Nurses handle various tasks in hospitals and morgues.
The nurse’s role includes:
– Handling the deceased with sensitivity to not upset the family or others present.
– Addressing the emotional needs of the victim’s family and friends.
– Managing paperwork, including requests, investigation documents, and treatment records.
– Recording necessary entries in the Morgue’s registers.
– Ensuring proper collection of DNA profiling samples.
– Assisting with biological evidence collection from crime scenes.
– Safeguarding important clothing items for forensic purposes.
Purposes of Post Mortem Care
Post mortem care serves several purposes:
1. Diagnostic Purposes: It helps families understand the disease processes leading to the patient’s death. Professionals gain insights into the cause of death through post mortem examinations.
2. Educational Purposes: Medical students, clinicians, pathologists, and others can learn from these procedures. Tissues may be used in educational programs, contributing to students’ understanding of disease processes.
3. Research Purposes: Collaboration with clinicians allows for tissue recovery for research. These tissues become valuable resources for conducting further research studies.
Post-mortem Care Nursing Interventions
Post-mortem care nursing interventions involve actions like Nurses needing to manage their feelings about death. They must also build inner abilities and seek help from different sources. Nursing should develop sincere human understanding, which is crucial now.
The Four Post-mortem Stages
The body goes through four stages of change after we pass away. Forensic pathology helps determine the time of death, also known as the post-mortem index (PMI). Here are the responses to the question, “what are the four post-mortem stages” in post-mortem care nursing?
1. Pallor Mortis
The initial change in a deceased body is the paleness that affects the face and other parts. This occurs as blood flow stops. It’s the first sign of death and happens swiftly, within 15 to 30 minutes after death.
However, it’s not a reliable way to determine the time of death. Research shows that paleness doesn’t relate to a person’s appearance.
2. Algor Mortis
Humans are warm-blooded, so our body temperature remains steady despite external conditions. Our circulatory system disperses heat, with the brain acting as a thermostat.
When the heart stops pumping blood just before death, brain cells begin to die. Without the brain and blood to conduct heat, the body gradually matches the surrounding temperature.
3. Rigor Mortis
A body becomes limp soon after death. All muscles relax, but within hours, the entire body stiffens. Muscles tense and stiffen in a condition known as Rigor Mortis. Its progression is generally predictable, making it valuable for estimating the time of death.
4. Livor Mortis
This marks the final stage in post-mortem care. Gravity causes blood to pool when the heart stops beating. Specific body areas tend to collect the blood. The collection sites differ based on body positioning.
For instance, if the deceased was lying on their back, blood would gather in contact areas with the ground, such as fingers, toes, and earlobes. If the person was hanging, blood would encircle these extremities.
Muslim Post-mortem Care Nursing
Death customs, beliefs, and practices vary across cultures and religions. These differences have caused disagreements regarding anatomic dissections and post-mortem examinations, especially within Muslim post-mortem care nursing. Such perspectives historically hindered scientific and medical advancement.
Understanding Mental Health Research
As a person nears death, a Muslim reader recites verses from the Qur’an. Non-Muslims should avoid touching the body when family members prepare it. After death, the person’s eyes are closed, and limbs are straightened. Autopsies and organ donation are typically discouraged unless mandated by law.
In Conclusion
Still need help with post-mortem care nursing? This blog’s guidelines can enhance your understanding of the subject. For struggling students, this blog serves as an excellent starting point for comprehending post-mortem care nursing.
The content simplifies the process, making it effective and manageable. Your questions about post-mortem care rationale will also be addressed through this blog. Reach out to usanursingpapers.com for nursing assignment assistance.
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