Care for families after suicide loss: nursing academic experience

To understand how the nursing academics experience the process of taking care of bereaved families after a suicide loss, to identify the meanings of the experience and to build a theoretical model.

Qualitative study that used symbolic interactionism and grounded theory. Open interviews were held with 16 nursing academics. Data were analyzed according to the constant comparative method.

The phenomenon seeking his/her own restoration to help the bereaved family to move on is represented by the theoretical model composed by the categories: facing the tragedy in the family, evaluating the caring scenario, mobilizing his/her internal resources, performing the care and reflecting on the repercussions of the experience.

The process represents efforts undertaken by students in the pursuit of the family's restoration to provide the best care toward them, through embracement, listening, sensitivity and flexibility, so it creates opportunities for the family to strengthen and plan their future.