Development of a perinatal grief checklist

Area of Science:

• Perinatal nursing
• Grief counseling
• Family support

Background:

• Caring for families experiencing newborn death is challenging.
• Lack of a structured plan can increase nurse and family distress.
• Anxiety, depression, and frustration are common emotional responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a guiding tool for perinatal nurses.
• To outline the use of the Perinatal Grief Checklist.
• To support families experiencing the death of a newborn.

Main Methods:

• A group of nurses collaborated to create a practical tool.
• The tool was designed as a guide for nursing interventions.
• The process involved development and implementation phases.

Main Results:

• A Perinatal Grief Checklist was developed.
• The checklist serves as a guide for nurses.
• The tool facilitates a meaningful nursing intervention.

Conclusions:

• The Perinatal Grief Checklist aids nurses in managing a difficult intervention.
• Structured tools can improve care for families grieving a newborn's death.
• The checklist supports both nurses and families during a critical time.