After an Unsuccessful Resuscitation Attempt, a Patient Dies

question 48

Multiple Choice

After an unsuccessful resuscitation attempt, a patient dies. What should the nurse do first?

• A) Document the time of death.
• B) Notify the funeral home.
• C) Contact the physician.
• D) Contact the orderly for transport to the morgue.

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Definitions:

Heme

An iron-containing component essential for oxygen transport in the blood, found in hemoglobin and myoglobin.

Red Blood Cells

Blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body and bringing carbon dioxide back from those tissues to the lungs.

Pleural Cavity

The thin fluid-filled space between the two pulmonary pleurae (visceral and parietal) of each lung; involved in respiratory mechanics.

Fluid

A substance that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure; a liquid or gas.