Creating a curtain of protection: nurses' experiences of grief following patient death.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the lived experience of nurses surrounding the death of their patients.


METHODS
A qualitative phenomenologic approach was used for the interview and analysis framework. Methods to ensure trustworthiness and rigor were incorporated into the design.


METHODS
Using semistructured interviews and phenomenologic concepts, the investigators interviewed 11 registered nurses where data was analyzed using methods of Heideggerian hermeneutical analysis and van Manen's progression of reflection, description, writing, and rewriting.


RESULTS
Four themes were identified: (a) Reciprocal relationship transcends professional relationship; (b) initial patient death events are formative; (c) nurses' coping responses incorporate spiritual worldviews and caring rituals; and (d) remaining "professional" requires compartmentalizing of experience.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses create a curtain of protection to mitigate the grieving process and allow them to continue to provide supportive nursing care.


CONCLUSIONS
By developing understanding of the grieving and coping processes, nursing faculty, administrators, and leaders can provide better learning opportunities and more supportive practice environments for the professional nurse.
Gerow
Lisa
L
University of Kansas School of Nursing, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
Conejo
Patricia
P
Alonzo
Amanda
A
Davis
Nancy
N
Rodgers
Susan
S
Domian
Elaine Williams
EW
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008149:Love; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011361:Professional Competence; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*