Songs for the Soul: A Program to Address a Nurse's Grief


Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Oncology
• Psychology

Background:

• Nurses caring for cancer patients frequently encounter grief.
• Cumulative grief can negatively impact nurses' well-being.
• Nurses require dedicated time and safe spaces to process grief.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce "Songs for the Soul," an intervention designed to support nurses experiencing grief.
• To explore the use of expressive writing, storytelling, and music in addressing nurses' grief.
• To provide a safe and vulnerable space for nurses to express their suffering.

Main Methods:

• The "Songs for the Soul" program integrates expressive writing, narrative sharing, and music.
• This approach facilitates the processing of grief and suffering experienced by nurses in their professional roles.
• The intervention aims to match the intensity of grief expression with the caregiving experience.

Main Results:

• The program offers a therapeutic outlet for nurses to confront and express grief.
• Expressive writing and storytelling through music provide a means to articulate complex emotions.
• Participants can address the suffering inherent in oncology nursing.

Conclusions:

• "Songs for the Soul" provides a unique, multi-modal approach to support grieving nurses.
• Integrating arts-based methods can effectively help nurses manage work-related grief and emotional distress.
• This intervention promotes emotional healing and resilience in oncology nursing practice.