In the sequence of events after a patient dies, what should the nurse do first?

The first action the nurse should take after a patient dies is to obtain a pronouncement of death from the provider. This step is crucial as it officially confirms that the patient has passed away, which is a legal and medical requirement before any further actions can be taken. Pronouncing death establishes that the patient is no longer under medical care and that the healthcare team can proceed with post-mortem care according to hospital policy and legal obligations.

Once the medical team has established and documented the death, the nurse can then proceed to other tasks, such as cleaning the body, removing tubes, and placing a tag. These steps are typically performed after the formal pronouncement, as they depend on the recognition of the patient's death. Thus, ensuring the pronouncement of death is the logical and necessary first step in the sequence of events following a patient's passing.