A nurse is performing postmortem care for a recently deceased client prior to the client’s family visit.
Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A.
Cross the client’s arms across their chest.
B.
Place the client in a high-Fowler’s position
C.
Hold the client’s eyes shut for a few seconds.
D.
Remove the client’s dentures from their mouth
When performing postmortem care, the nurse should take actions to prepare the body for the family’s visit while maintaining dignity and respect. Here’s the correct approach:
- Cross the client’s arms across their chest: This is typically done to maintain a natural appearance and provide a peaceful presentation.
- Place the client in a high-Fowler’s position: This position is not appropriate for postmortem care. The body is usually placed in a supine position (lying on the back).
- Hold the client’s eyes shut for a few seconds: This is done to ensure the eyes remain closed after death, but it is not the most emphasized action.
- Remove the client’s dentures from their mouth: This is a necessary action to ensure the mouth is closed properly and to prepare the body for viewing.
The correct action to take is:
D. Remove the client’s dentures from their mouth.
This ensures the mouth can be properly closed and the appearance is more natural for family members.