EXPERIENCE OF NEW NURSES AND VETERAN NURSES IN NICU IN THE FACE OF NEONATAL DEATH

Identifier:  TFG:2694

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2694

Authors:  Madruga López, Andrea

Abstract:
Introduction: In situations of neonatal grief, the nurse is faced with her own feelings and also the parents', being exposed to experience personal failure, impotence and the need to distance herself to control stress. However, coping skills and strategies are built with experience. Objectives: To explore how new and veteran nurses in NICUs cope with neonatal grief situations. To explore the perception of these nurses in relation to the care of the baby and their parents. Methodology: Pilot study of an interpretative and phenomenological character. Open dialogue interviews have been conducted with four NICU nurses, two of them with little experience in the unit and two of them veterans in the field. The results have been classified into four categories: 1) Challenges and context of neonatal grief; 2) The support to the parents in the neonatal death; 3) Ethics of care and moral stress in the face of neonatal death; 4) The experience and the confrontation. Results and discussion: the nurses identify: 1) Ideas that, due to social taboos, can prevent parents from grieving adequately; 2) Lack of healthcare training when dealing with neonatal grief; 3) As the fundamental pillars towards comprehensive and individualized care: teamwork, good communication between nurses and the family, and intervention based on respect for beliefs and values. Conclusions: The best way of learning for new nurses is reflected by gaining skills and sharing experiences working alongside veteran nurses as a reference. Training in clinical sessions and reflective practice can contribute to increasing knowledge and improving practice in both groups.