Coping while caring for the dying child: nurses' experiences in an acute care setting.
The aim of this study was to describe and understand behavior and coping strategies used by pediatric nurses caring for dying children on an inpatient acute care cardiology unit. Qualitative descriptive methods consisting of semistructured questions were presented to acute care nurses participating in focus groups. The nurses who participated in the focus groups had cared for an acutely ill child who died. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze data and organize results. The categories that emerged included the following: boundaries, memories, disconnecting, and labeling. Colleague support, institutional resources, and nurses' experience level were critical to the process of coping. Coping and grieving are facilitated by colleague and unit resources. Studies exploring job dissatisfaction, stress, and burnout from an inadequate grieving process are required.
Nursing/Patient Services, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA. Katherine.Cook2@childrens.harvard.edu
Katherine A
KA
Cook
Sandra
S
Mott
Patricia
P
Lawrence
Julie
J
Jablonski
Mary Rose
MR
Grady
Denise
D
Norton
Kimberly P
KP
Liner
Jennifer
J
Cioffi
Patricia
P
Hickey
Suzanne
S
Reidy
Jean Anne
JA
Connor
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital; D002648:Child; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*