Care of the Dead

Death
Death is a irreversible cessation of circulatory, respiratory function or the
irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the
brainstem.

Signs of Dying
This includes the following changes:

 Loss of appetite
 Decreased oral fluid intake and decreased thirst.
 Increasing weakness and/or fatique
 Decreasing blood perfusion, including decreased urine output, peripheral
cyanosis and cool extremities.
 Neurologic dysfunction, including delirium, lethargy and coma and
changes in respiratory patterns.
 Loss of ability to close eyes.
 Noisy breathing as pharyngeal muscle relax.
 In particular, neurologic dysfunction can sometimes result in terminal
delirium. Which can include a mounting syndrome of confusion,
hallucinations, delirium, myocardial jerks and seizures prior to death.
 Pitting edema develops, especially of the extremities and sacrum
 Movement and sensation are gradually lost.
 Temperature elevation will be there, but the skin feels cold and clammy.
 Pulse becomes irregular, weak and fast.
 BP falls as the peripheral circulation decreases.
 The skin cyanosed as circulation decreases.
 Respiration become noisy
 Reflexes disappear
 Urine decreases
 Pain usually subsides
 Mental alertness varies
  Jaw and facial muscles relax with the expression becoming peaceful.
Stages of Dying
According to Kubler- Ross, the five stages of dying are:

1. Denial. On being told that one is dying, there is an initial reaction of shock.
The patient may appear dazed at first and may then refuse to believe the
diagnosis or deny that anything is wrong. Some patients never pass
beyond this stage and may go from doctor to doctor until they find one
who supports their position. 
2. Anger. Patients become frustrated, irritable and angry that they are sick. A
common response is “Why me? ” They may become angry at God, their
fate, a friend, or a family member. The anger may be displaced onto the
hospital staff or the doctors who are blamed for the illness.
3. Bargaining. The patient may attempt to negotiate with physicians, friends
or even God, that in return for a cure, the person will fulfill one or many
promises, such as giving to charity or reaffirm an earlier faith in God.
4. Depression. The patient shows clinical signs of depression- withdrawal,
psychomotor retardation, sleep disturbances, hopelessness and possibly
suicidal ideation.  The depression may be a reaction to the effects of the
illness on his or her life or it may be in anticipation of the approaching
death.
5. Acceptance. The patient realizes that death is inevitable and accepts the
universality of the experience. Under ideal circumstances, the patient is
courageous and is able to talk about his or her death as he or she faces
the unknown.
Physical Signs of Dying
 Confusion – about time, place, and identity of loved ones; visions of
people and places that are not present
 A decreased need for food and drink, as well as loss of appetite – this
may be caused by the body’s need to conserve energy and its decreasing
ability to use foods properly
 Drowsiness – an increased need for sleep and unresponsiveness
 Withdrawal and decreased socialization – can be caused by mentally
preparing for dying, decreased oxygen to the brain and decreased blood
flow
 Loss of bowel or bladder control – caused by relaxing muscles in the
pelvic area
 Skin becomes cool to the touch – especially in the hands and feet, skin
may become bluish in color caused by decreased circulation to the
extremities
 Rattling or gurgling sounds while breathing or breathing that is irregular
and shallow, decreased number of breaths per minute, or breathing that
switches between rapid and slow
 Involuntary movements (called myoclonus), changes in heart rate, and
loss of reflexes in the legs and arms also mean that the end of life is near .
Management of Dying Patient
Cassen (1991) suggests seven essential features in the management of the
dying patient:

 Concern: Empathy, compassion, and involvement are essential

 Competence: Skill and knowledge can be as reassuring as warmth and
concern. Patients benefit immeasurably from the reassurance that their
providers will not allow them to live or die in pain.
 Communication: Allow patients to speak their minds and get to know them.
 Children: If children want to visit the dying, it is generally advisable; they
bring consolation to dying patients.
 Cohesion: Family cohesion reassures both the patient and family. The
clinician who gets to know the family maximizes patient support and is
prepared to help the family through bereavement.
 Cheerfulness: A gentle, appropriate sense of humor can be palliative; a
somber or anxious demeanor should be avoided.
 Consistency: Continuing, persistent attention is highly valued by patients
who often fear that they are a burden and will be abandoned; consistent
physician involvement mitigates these fears.
Nursing Care of Dying Patient
 Creating a peaceful environment to the patient’s liking.
 Preparing instructions about whom to call (usually not all) when death
occurs.
 Give the relatives time to witness what is happening.
 Creating and using rituals that can help mark the occasion in the
respectful way.
 When death occurs, families should encouraged to take whatever time
they need to feel what has happened, and say their goodbyes. There is no
need to rush the body to a funeral home, and some families want to stay
with the body for a period of time after death.
Meeting physical needs:

 A patient in the terminal stages of a disease, is given all the nursing care
possible to ensure the most comfort and freedom from pain. Physical
comfort is important as well as emotional and spiritual comfort.
Meeting nutritional need:
 Patients suffer discomfort due to decreased gastrointestinal activity.
 Nutrients and fluids are given intravenously when they are not tolerated
orally.
 Sips of water is given as long the swallowing reflex is present.
 When there is a problem gauze soaked with water may be placed in the
patient’s mouth for him to suck and moisten the mouth.
Meeting special needs:

  Mucus that collects in the throat is removed by placing the patient in a

lateral position, wiping it way, or by suctioning.
 Frequent oral hygiene is done to keep the mouth free of dried secretions,
and feeling fresh to the patient.
 Vaseline or cream is applied to the lips to keep them soft.
 The nostrils are kept cleans and lubricated as necessary.
 The eyes are cleaned with cotton balls miostened with normal saline.
 Lubricating drops or ointment may be applied to the eyes.
 The patient may perspire profusely even though the skin feels cool.
 Bath the patient and change the linen needed.
 Light weight bed covering should be used. Heavy covering seems to be
uncomfortable to dying patients.
 Urinary and fecal incontinence often occur due to relaxing of the sphincter
muscles. Pads are used to keep the bed linen from being soiled. The
patient is checked frequently and pads or linen changed as necessary. The
patient’s skin is washed and dried each time it is soiled.
 Frequent change of position (make sure the position permits each
breathing)
 Pain is a great problem in some diseases. The doctor orders sufficient
medication to control pain. It must be given as frequently as permitted. If
it does not adequately control the pain, inform the doctor.
 Nursing measures for pain are used to make the patient comfortable on a
minimum of medication.
 Dimness and shadows are confusing and increase a sense of loneliness.
So we have to provide adequate light facility to the patient.
Meeting Emotional Needs:

 Touch is an important method of communication with a dying person. The

patient appropriates some one holding his hand or playing a hand on an
arm, his head or some other part of the body. It conveys a feeling of caring
and concern. Quiet, encouraging conversation to the patient is helpful.
 Speak in a normal voice to the patient or to others in his presence.
 Do no speak in a whisper in the patient’s presence. It is very distressing to
most sick people.
 Hearing is believed to the last sense to disappear. Weeping is disclosed in
the patient’s presence or nearby.
Signs of Death
  Absence of heartbeat and respirations.
  Fixed pupils
 Skin color turns to a waxen pallor and extremities may darken.
 Body temperatures drops
 Muscles and sphincters relax, sometimes resulting in release of stool or
urine
Physiological Changes After Death
1. Rigor mortis

 Stiffening of the body that occurs about 2-4hrs after death.

 Results from a lack of ATP, which causes the muscles to contract, which
in turn immobilize the joints
 It starts in the involuntary muscles( heart, bladder) then progress to head,
neck, trunk , extremities.
2. Algor mortis

 Gradual decrease of the body temperature after death.

 When blood circulation terminates and hypothalamus ceases to function ,
body temperature falls down.
3. Livor mortis

 Discolouration of body after death.

 After blood circulation has ceased , the RBC broken down , – leads to
discolouration of surrounding tissues
4. Decomposition

 Tissues after death become soft and eventually liquified by bacterial

fermentation .
 The hotter the temperature, the more rapid the change.
 So bodies are stored in cool places / embalming
Care After Death
After death the body undergoes many physical changes. So care must be
provided as early to prevent tissue damage /disfigurement of body parts.

I. Purpose

1. To prepare the body for the morgue.

2. To prevent discoloration or deformity of the body.
3. To protect the body from post mortom discharge.
II. Equipments
Tray with:
 Basin of warm water, a basin of lysol solution 2%
 Soap in dish, pair of scissors, comb or brush
 Bath towel and wash cloth
 Surgical dressings p.r.n.
 Mortuary pack: should, diaper sheet 2 death tags, non-absorbent cotton,
pins, bandages, forceps.
 Bed screen
III. Points to Remember

1. Respect the dead body. Avoid unnecessary exposure and irrelevant

conversations.
2. The body should be identified properly.
3. Clothing’s, jewelry and other valuables or belongings must be kept and
cared for properly.
IV. Procedure
1. The patient has pronounced dead by the doctor, place the body in dorsal
position with only a small pillow under the head. Straighten
2. See that dentures are placed in the mouth if patient has any
3. Remove all appliances; catheters, drainage tubings, Venoclysis sets, etc.
4. Close the eves and mouth when open.
5. Eyes—bring upper lid down to the lower and apply gentle pressure over it
for a while.
6. Mouth—bring the jaws together by placing a rolled towel under the chin.
7. Remove extra bed linen and camisa. Leave one sheet to cover the body.
8. Bathe the body using the Lysol solution to rinse.
9. Change surgical dressings p.r.n. Pack anus with cotton. Vagina (if
female). If there is any discharge from the nose and mouth, pack them
too. Use forceps.
10. Place the diaper.
11. Full hands over the chest. Pad wrists with cotton and the tie the 2 wrists
together with bandage. Attach one tag to the wrist.
12. Pad the ankles and tie them together.
13. Put on the shroud. Wrap body with a sheet well. Attach the other tag at
the center
14. Cover the prepared body with a sheet and notify the head nurse or call
for the messenger to take the body to the morgue.