Post mortem nursing care effectiveness as perceived by mortuary practitioners

Background: Death is a common event in hospitals. The majority of patients who die receive post mortem nursing care. The interventions used by nurses in providing this are largely derived from tradition rather than empirical evidence. Minimal research has been reported concerning effectiveness of the care in contributing to a desired cosmetic appearance with further professional preparation for the purpose of viewing. Mortuary Practitioners perform this preparation and evaluate the cosmetic appearance of the deceased. Previous research has been conducted, but within a single Midwestern state (Hand, 2013). Broader inquiry is needed due to geographical variations in practice.Purpose/Aims: The purpose is to examine post mortem nursing care effectiveness from the perspective of the Mortuary Practitioner. Specific aims are to describe how post mortem nursing care interventions are perceived to contribute to or hinder achieving a desired cosmetic appearance of a deceased patient and to describe alternative recommendations for those perceived to hinder.Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach will be used. A convenience sample of approximately two hundred Licensed Mortuary Practitioners from all fifty states, Guam, and Puerto Rico will be contacted via email, invited to participate in the study, and provided a link to the online questionnaire. The questionnaire includes six demographic items and eight open ended items concerning positioning of the body, cleaning, using ties to secure extremities, oral care, shrouding, and identification. Open ended items ask participants to describe their typical observations, respond concerning whether these help or hinder producing a desired cosmetic appearance of the deceased, and identify any alternative recommendations for interventions perceived to hinder. Steps in data analysis will include reading each response several times, initial coding to identify themes, clustering based on similarity, elimination of duplication, final theme labeling, and identifying key exemplars.Results: Data collection is in progress and should be completed by June 2015.Discussion: It is anticipated that participant responses will reflect their own practice observations and whether preparation for viewing is requested by the loved ones they serve.Implications for Practice: The findings may be useful in evaluating and revising institutional post mortem nursing care policies and practices.ReferenceHand, M.W. (2013). Post Mortem/Last Office Nursing Care Effectiveness as Perceived by US Licensed Funeral Directors. End of Life Journal, 5(4), 1-9.