[Cultural strategies for coping with infant death in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit]

To analyze what is the conceptualization the nurses have of child death in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and identify sociocultural strategies for coping with it.

qualitative methodology. Etnography.

PICU University Hospital Gregorio Marañón. Madrid.

nurses and nursing assistants who work in the PICU.

Observation participant and semi-structured in-depth interview. Organization and analysis of the data: the analytic procedure posed from the Established Theory. SOFTWARE OF SUPPORT: Atlas-ti.

Child death acquires specific meanings in the PICU context. Cognitive classifications and symbols give meaning to a reality to which the nursing professionals adapt through the creation of cultural coping strategies. Based on the data, 5 strategies could be identified: redefinition of the death concept, delay in identity assignment of the children, <> (funeral rituals), discharge metaphor, and avoidable condensed symbols.

Hidden behind the indifferent aspects of our daily life, difficult social and cultural constructs support our living and working efforts. Through daily life Anthropology we can know and understand our relationship with all our surroundings. When we are aware of them, we can develop new resources and strategies to adapt to the difficult circumstances they cause, in this case, within the context of critical ill child care.