A hospital-based neonatal intensive care unit bereavement follow-up program: an evaluation of its effectiveness

Health care professionals strive to meet the needs of patients and families in a holistic approach. With the death of a newborn, many challenges arise that cause health care professionals to question their abilities to provide adequate grief support. The death of a newborn is unnatural and evokes many unresolved feelings about death that society has not recognized. A bereavement program in an NICU can provide consistent support for grieving families. This article evaluates several aspects of a hospital-based bereavement follow-up program by comparing its first year and a subsequent year. Establishing a bereavement program and outlining responsibilities for staff involvement are also addressed.