Grief among Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nurses in high-stress neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) face a high risk of grief following infant death.
• The emotional toll on NICU staff necessitates an understanding of their grief experiences and support needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of grief experienced by NICU nurses.
• To evaluate nurses' perceptions of available grief support services.
• To identify effective grief coping methods for NICU nurses.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with 55 nurses in a Level IV NICU.
• Online surveys assessed grief levels using the Revised Grief Experience Inventory.
• Data on perceived support and coping strategies were collected.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported moderate to high grief scores (mean = 46.9).
• 60% found current grief support inadequate; 81% desired additional support.
• Nurses identified family, friends, and coworkers as primary support, and requested debriefing and staffing resources.

Conclusions:

• NICU nurses experience significant grief related to their work.
• Enhanced debriefing and bereavement support are crucial for NICU nurses.
• Addressing support deficits can improve well-being in high-acuity NICU settings.