A bodybuilder is brought to the emergency room after being found unresponsive. The patient is found to have no brain activity due to hypoxia caused by a massive myocardial infarction. Care is withdrawn and the patient passes away. Which statements does the nurse make to the nursing student who is assisting in providing post-mortem care? Select all that apply.

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“It is important that we prop the patient’s jaw closed.” , “We will see rigor mortis beginning in this patient’s head and neck first.”, “If we move this patient to clean under him, it is likely he will appear to exhale.” , “We will allow the family to spend as much time as they would like with the patient.” , “Rigor mortis for this patient will be significantly more visible than a patient on hospice.”. The patient who is a bodybuilder has significantly more muscle mass than a patient on hospice (usually), which causes rigor mortis to be more pronounced in this patient. Compressing the lungs may cause the patient to appear to exhale. Propping the jaw closed is important for an open casket because the body will stay in the position it is left due to rigor mortis. The family should be allowed as much time as they would like to spend with the patient. Rigor mortis is craniocaudal.

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