Pronouncement of Death Guidelines

When a client receiving care is terminally ill or dying, registrants1 foster comfort, alleviate suffering, advocate for adequate relief of discomfort and pain, and assist clients in meeting their goals of culturally and spiritually appropriate care. This includes support for the family during and following death, and care of the client’s body after death (Canadian Nurses Association [CNA], 2017).

The role of the registrant is to care for those that are grieving in a compassionate and professional manner, and to help ease their suffering. The registrant’s ability to pronounce the death of a client, and provide appropriate aftercare to family, can provide continuity of care during this significant life event. 

The purpose of this document is to:

• provide guidance to registrants for the pronouncement of death;
• highlight legislation and regulations that are relevant to the pronouncement of death; and
• highlight the roles and responsibilities of registrants in the pronouncement of death.

These guidelines are grounded in the Practice Standards for Registrants (College of Registered Nurses of Alberta [CRNA], 2023) and the Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses (CNA, 2017).