The nurse's role during death and bereavement: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Palliative Care
• Bereavement Support

Background:

• Nurses provide essential physical, emotional, and bereavement support in end-of-life care.
• Their critical contributions are often under-recognized within healthcare systems.
• This review synthesizes evidence on nurses' roles, challenges, and impact in death and bereavement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the multifaceted roles of nurses in end-of-life care.
• To highlight the contributions, challenges, and impact of nurses during patient death and family bereavement.
• To identify factors influencing the quality of nursing care in palliative and end-of-life settings.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, etc.) from January 2000 to June 2025.
• Studies focusing on nurses' roles in death, dying, grief, and bereavement were included.
• Data extraction and synthesis adhered to PRISMA guidelines, with registration in PROSPERO.

Main Results:

• Twenty-two studies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods) were included, indicating positive attitudes towards palliative care.
• Nurses and family caregivers experience demanding, emotional situations in end-of-life care.
• Key obstacles include lack of institutional support, time constraints, cultural issues, limited training, and staffing shortages.

Conclusions:

• Palliative care difficulties are universal, aligning with global evidence.
• Nurses face significant emotional and professional demands, compounded by institutional barriers.
• Recommendations include enhanced training, improved institutional resources, and culturally sensitive communication to improve nurse readiness and patient outcomes.