Although it is an emotionally demanding task, performing the last appointments on a patient is a very important part of nursing. Not only do I see it as a sacred task, it is the last act of kindness a nurse can do for her patient!

It could be that you have breastfed the patient for a long time and watched him deteriorate until he took his last breath. Or they may have died suddenly. It does not matter how the patient dies, but as a nurse there is a high probability that at some point in your career you will face a situation in which you have to perform the last consultations on a patient. This task may not be for everyone, as it can be emotionally draining. However, if you do come across a dead body in your ward or unit, here are some tips on how to do the last consultations with your patient:

1) First confirm with the doctors that they are indeed dead. (well, strange things happen!)

2) Remove all attached monitoring equipment.

3) If you have loved ones nearby that they have left behind, ask them if they would like to spend some time with them before starting to work on the body. There may still be more time afterward, but show that you respect their feelings at this difficult time.

4) They say that the sense of hearing is the last to disappear, therefore, when a patient dies, be aware of what they are saying around them, especially shortly after their passing. There is much to be said about respecting the dead!

5) As ridiculous as it may sound, you can talk to your patient during this act of love and kindness. You’re not crazy and it doesn’t matter if they can still hear you or not. She does it because she is a caring and respectful nurse!

6) If you do not feel comfortable doing this task or if you are not sure how it is done, it is advisable to seek the help of a colleague. The same rule of not going beyond your experience level applies even to a corpse!

7) Clean the body, sealing holes such as nose, anus, etc. with a cotton ball or whatever is appropriate for your use.

8) When everything has been cleaned, the body should be placed in a body bag and labeled according to your hospital guidelines before taking it to the morgue.

9) Treat the corpse as you would like to be treated, with respect! Remember that this is the mother, father, uncle or son of God forbid.