Post-mortem Care

Post-mortem Care Procedure:
1. Check the physician’s order. Check the chart for the physician’s certification of the death.
2. Ask permission and explain to the significant others that you are going to perform post mortem care. Ask the relatives if they wish to stay while doing the procedure.
3. Place “NO VISITOR-CHECK AT NURSE’S STATION” – sign to door. Provide privacy. If in the ward, draw curtains.
4. Do handwashing.
5. Place body in a supine position in bed flat (Align body in natural anatomical position with body on back, arms along side and palms turned toward thighs – poor alignment may cause irregular body formations/deformities as a result of rigor mortis.)
6. Place pillow under head to prevent deep, reddish-purple discoloration around sides of the face, earlobes and neck.
7. Prepares necessary equipments. Pour lukewarm water into the basin.
8. Don gloves.
9. Remove jewelries and personal items. Return these to the family in the presence of a witness. Do not remove engagement or wedding ring unless specified by an order or according to hospital policy.
10. Replace soiled linen and straighten top linen.
11. Close patient’s eyelids by applying light pressure downward with the fingertips. If eyelids will not remain closed on their own, initially, you can place wet gauze pads over closed eyes until it remain closed on their own. Put dentures if any. Then close the patient’s mouth.
12. Remove all equipments, tubes or clamp all drains according to hospital policy. Remove IV and other tubes unless autopsy is to take place.
13. Dip washcloth in basin with lukewarm water. Then wrap it around your hand to make a mitten. Using a circular strokes, wet forehead, eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth and ears. Using same technique, soap the areas mentioned then wash with lukewarm water, using same technique.
14. Get cotton balls and put them on patient’s closed eyes, nares and outer ear. You may secure it with each tape lengthwise depending on hospital policy.
15. Place a small rolled towel into chin to prevent the lower jaw from sagging.
16. Drape the patient with a blanket, then remove the top sheet underneath.
17. Remove patient’s clothes carefully as to not expose any body parts.
18. Perform bed bath. Expose farther arm, place bath towel under it. Using circular motion, wet, soap, rinse and dry thoroughly. Expose the other arm, do the same procedure. Using the same technique, wet, soap and rinse the chest, abdomen, sides and pubis. Turn patient towards you. Place the towel lengthwise under the patient’s back, down to the buttocks. Wet, soap and rinse the back and buttocks thoroughly. Expose farther leg. Place the towel under it. Wet, soap and rinse thigh, leg, groin and foot. Do the same technique to the leg nearer you. Finish the bath doing the same too the patient’s genitalia.
19. Put diaper, underwear and patient’s new clothes.
20. Remove bath blanket.
21. Give time to the family to view the patient, encouraging them to say goodbye through touching and talking. Give time not to rush the family or relatives.
22. Then, secure ankles and wrists. Cross right ankle over left, place disposable pads between ankles and secure with gauze roller bandage or according to hospital policy. Cross right wrist over left, placing on the chest, place disposable pads between wrists and secure with gauze roller bandage.
23. Attach two body tags, DA Form (DEATH TAG). Tie death tag to the great toe and left wrist. (Do not tie the tags so tight as to cause severe skin discoloration.
24. Cover and secure the patient with the shroud. Secure it with safety pins and secure another nametag on the shroud.
25. Transport patient to the morgue. Lift the patient, taking special care for the head and limbs and transfer onto the cart from the morgue. The head or the cart should be elevated in a continuing effort to prevent liver mortis.