I work in Aged Care and I have been told that as a Registered Nurse I can verify deaths when residents pass away. Is this true?

When it comes to verifying a death, it is crucial that you consult the local policy of your facility. Each facility may have specific protocols in place regarding death verification and adhering to these guidelines is essential for ensuring compliance and maintaining patient safety.

We encourage you to familiarise yourself with local guidelines to ensure that you are fully informed about your responsibilities in this regard. There may be specific steps to complete as part of a verification of death assessment. There would also be specific documentation to complete. You want to ensure that you are working within your scope of practice and in accordance with policies particularly if it is possible that a death may need to be reported to the coroner.

If your facility does not have a specific policy or guideline addressing death verification, we recommend that you contact a medical officer, general practitioner, or paramedic to perform the verification. If this is not possible the body can be transported to an NSW Health facility for a verification of death assessment.

It is important to ensure that the process is conducted in accordance with legal and professional standards. If you are uncertain of you rights and responsibilities start by asking a manager or educator. If you are still uncertain, please contact the NSWNMA at your earliest convenience for advice and support.