A pathologist directs and supervises a morgue attendant, also known as a morgue assistant, who works in a hospital or municipal morgue. Funeral home assistants almost always pursue a degree in mortuary science and work under the direction and supervision of the facility’s funeral director. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) or experience as a general medical assistant without patient contact is common among morgue assistants and attendants. The position requires a basic understanding of human anatomy and medical terminology, which can be gained through CNA training or prior experience. A morgue attendant is responsible for admitting and releasing bodies from the morgue, performing housekeeping duties, and assisting pathologists with autopsy procedures as needed.
Although some online colleges claim that a two- to four-year degree from one of their schools is required to work as a morgue attendant, government and objective sources claim that the position can be obtained with a high school diploma and, in most cases, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification. Medical assistants can work in a variety of roles, including morgue attendant, whether or not the position requires certification. Another factor that may influence the type of experience and education required is whether the attendant works in a hospital or a municipal morgue.
After a physician has pronounced death, a hospital morgue attendant admits bodies from other floors of the hospital and confirms the body’s identity comparing the hospital wristband to the hospital chart. The body is moved to the morgue storage unit, and the attendant completes any clerical work required to document the admission. The morgue assistant transports bodies to funeral homes and fills out the necessary paperwork to document these transfers. During autopsies, morgue attendants assist the pathologist assisting with body transfer to the autopsy table, providing tools, equipment, and supplies as needed, and sealing and labeling collected tissue samples for transfer to the laboratory department. The attendant is in charge of cleaning the autopsy table and surrounding area, properly disposing of potentially biohazardous material, and sterilizing surgical autopsy equipment after the procedure.
Similar tasks are required of morgue attendants in municipal morgues. The main difference between a hospital and a municipal morgue is that the latter does not allow for an autopsy. As a result, a municipal morgue attendant will have more autopsy-related responsibilities. When a death is suspected to be the result of a crime, all material obtained during the autopsy must be meticulously labeled, documented, and disposed of.