The Imprints of Neonatal Death: A Qualitative Study on Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses' Experiences of Neonatal Death

Abstract

Background: Grief can pose significant challenges in nurses' lives, impacting both their personal well-being and work performance. Purpose: The aim was to examine neonatal intensive care nurses' (NICU) experiences with neonatal death. Methods: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological study design. The study group consisted of 17 nurses in the NICU. Data were collected online via Zoom using a semi-structured interview form and analyzed through a content analysis. The study was reported in line with the COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklist. Results: Two main themes and five sub-themes emerged. (1) "Grief" conveyed that nurses developed an empathetic bond with the newborn and family through their interactions during the care process, that confronting the empty incubator after the newborn's loss evoked profound and complex emotions, and that they sometimes had to maintain a delicate balance on ice to navigate their emotional intensity. (2) "Transformation" illustrated how grief was reflected in nurses' lives, influencing specific roles they assumed, and how they frequently experienced a deep need for contact following the loss of a baby. Implications for practice and research: To support the grieving process, structural interventions such as debriefings, reflective sessions, group-based psychosocial resilience workshops, and supervision should be promoted, along with flexible rest periods that allow nurses who need solitude to recuperate. Understanding the impact of newborn loss on nurses' lives may also guide the development of appropriate support interventions.