POST MORTEM CARE CHAPTER 42
what are the nurses responsibilities when it comes to post mortem care - Answer- -
caring for patients body
-caring for family
-discharging specific legal responsibilities
what are the specific legal responsibilities that a nurse is responsible for in post
mortem care - Answer- -ensuring a death certificate is issued and signed
-labeling the body
-reviewing organ donation arrangements
what should a nurse do immediately before death - Answer- notify the family
what are manifestations that occur immediately before death - Answer- -mottled skin
-semi comatose
-eyes sunken and glazed
-decreased ability to move
-dulled senses except for hearing
-abnormal breathing pattern
-decreased cardiac output
-difficulty clearing secretions
-impaired heart and renal functioning
what is agonal breathing - Answer- abnormal breathing pattern characterized by
gasping, labored breathing, accompanied by strange vocalizations and twitching.
- 3-4 per min with gasping sounds
what is cheyne stokes respirations - Answer- abnormal breathing with apnea and
tachypnea
(period of no breathing then period of heavy breathing)
--^v^v^------^v^v^-----^v^v^--
what are signs of decreased cardiac output - Answer- weakened pulse and
decreased BP
what are components of the Pronouncement of Death - Answer- -Document the time
and date of the event and communicate the pertinent information to the appropriate
individuals.
-When death occurs, the RN present may be responsible for diagnosing the absence
of human responses, the absence of spontaneous breathing and heart beat if the
primary provider is unavailable.
(not the certification of death)
what is the RNs role in the pronouncement of death - Answer- -Provide physical and
psychological supportive measures to the patient and family.
-document time, date, pertinent info
what are the nurses responsibilities when it comes to post mortem care - Answer- -
caring for patients body
-caring for family
-discharging specific legal responsibilities
what are the specific legal responsibilities that a nurse is responsible for in post
mortem care - Answer- -ensuring a death certificate is issued and signed
-labeling the body
-reviewing organ donation arrangements
what should a nurse do immediately before death - Answer- notify the family
what are manifestations that occur immediately before death - Answer- -mottled skin
-semi comatose
-eyes sunken and glazed
-decreased ability to move
-dulled senses except for hearing
-abnormal breathing pattern
-decreased cardiac output
-difficulty clearing secretions
-impaired heart and renal functioning
what is agonal breathing - Answer- abnormal breathing pattern characterized by
gasping, labored breathing, accompanied by strange vocalizations and twitching.
- 3-4 per min with gasping sounds
what is cheyne stokes respirations - Answer- abnormal breathing with apnea and
tachypnea
(period of no breathing then period of heavy breathing)
--^v^v^------^v^v^-----^v^v^--
what are signs of decreased cardiac output - Answer- weakened pulse and
decreased BP
what are components of the Pronouncement of Death - Answer- -Document the time
and date of the event and communicate the pertinent information to the appropriate
individuals.
-When death occurs, the RN present may be responsible for diagnosing the absence
of human responses, the absence of spontaneous breathing and heart beat if the
primary provider is unavailable.
(not the certification of death)
what is the RNs role in the pronouncement of death - Answer- -Provide physical and
psychological supportive measures to the patient and family.
-document time, date, pertinent info
