Postmortem/last offices nursing care effectiveness as perceived by US licensed funeral directors

摘要: Background: The provision of appropriate physical postmortem nursing care, or last offices, is important for all deceased people, particularly if further preparation required by the funeral director purpose open-casket viewing. However, effectiveness practices in this regard has been subject minimal empirical research. Purpose and objectives: study was to explore postmortem/last offices care from perspective licensed director. objectives were describe phenomenon effectiveness, perceptions concerning how procedures may aid hinder process producing a desired cosmetic result with gain insight into recommendations care. Methods: A survey adopting qualitative methodology open-ended questions used study. convenience sample 20 directors single mid-western state US completed web-based questionnaire. Data analysis involved reading each responses several times, initial coding, reviewing similarities, clustering themes based on similarity, review, final theme labelling. Results: provided observations, opinions relation to: body positioning; use ligatures ties secure extremities: removal leaving place intravenous catheters lines surgical tubes drains; retention mouth dentures partial plates; cleansing body; identification shrouding body. Conclusions: findings suggest that need be considered carefully individual assessment. participants’ general consensus regarding aspects largely agreement they typically observe. there discrepancies require investigation. Conflicts interest: none Acknowledgements: author wishes acknowledge Indiana Funeral Directors Association its invaluable assistance contacting participants