Enhancing bereavement support skills using simulated neonatal resuscitation

Neonatal death is one of the most challenging elements of nursing and midwifery practice and health professionals supporting parents following such a loss often develop their skills in bereavement care through experience and modelling from experienced peers. For student nurses and midwives who have limited exposure to neonatal death during their clinical experiences, developing the skills to support bereaved parents is a priority during their undergraduate education. Clinical simulations can aid student learning in this complex area of clinical practice and assist them to engage effectively in support for bereaved parents. This paper reports on a qualitative study where the use of neonatal resuscitation simulation is used to prepare a group of undergraduate (double degree) nurse midwives to support bereaved parents surrounding neonatal death. The findings indicate that this simulation can assist students to develop and reflect upon their bereavement support skills in the context of unexpected neonatal death. They also point to the need for equipping students with self care strategies to manage their personal responses to the highly emotive context of neonatal death and supporting the bereaved mother.