Last offices

The last offices are the procedures performed, usually by a nurse in the developed world, to a dead person shortly after death has been confirmed. They can vary from hospital to hospital, and culture to culture.

Name

The word "offices" is related to the original latin, in which "officium" means "service, duty, business" [ [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=office&searchmode=none Online Etymology Dictionary ] ] . Hence these are the "last duties" carried out on the body.

Procedure

Often the body of the deceased is left for an hour as a mark of respect [http://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/intranet/Ashford---/Publicatio/Policies-a/Last-Offices-Nursing-Procedure2.doc] . The procedure then typically includes the following steps, though they can vary according to an institution's preferred practices [http://www.mhb.ie/mhb/OurServices/PoliciesProceduresGuidelines/Appendix1/CareoftheOlderPersons/d7841.PDF] :
*Removal of jewellery unless requested otherwise by the deceased's family. If left on it must be documented in the patient's property list.
*Wounds, including pressure sores, should be covered with a waterproof dressing. Tube insertion points should be padded with gauze and tape to avoid purging.
*The patient is laid on his/her back with arms by their side (unless religious customs demand otherwise). Eyelids are closed.
*The jaw is often supported with a pillow or cervical collar.
*Dentures should be left in place, unless inappropriate.
*The bladder is drained by applying pressure on the lower abdomen. Orifices are blocked only if leakage of body fluid is evident.
*The body is then washed, the mouth cleaned and the face shaved.
*An identification bracelet is put on the ankle detailing: the name of the patient; date of birth; date of death; name of ward (if patient died in hospital).

References

External links

* [http://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/intranet/Ashford---/Publicatio/Policies-a/Last-Offices-Nursing-Procedure2.doc Last Offices Nursing Procedure description]