Intensive Care Registered Nurses’ Role in Bereavement Support

Understanding the bereavement care roles of nurses within acute care: a systematic review

“…, Kurian et al . ). The lack of professional development in the area of bereavement care was frustrating for nurses, and they often sought guidance from more senior colleagues (Hansen et al .…”

“…The lack of spiritual support and/or chaplaincy support after hours was another issue, impacting on the quality of bereavement supports (Kurian et al . ).…”

“…, Arbour & Wiegand , Kurian et al . ). It was evident that a large part of the role that nurses undertook was ensuring that families were provided with opportunities to be with patients, and this involved judging when to contact family members due to change in patient condition and supporting family members at the bedside during their grief (Popejoy et al .…”

“…Seventy percent of intensive care nurses in the study by Kurian et al . () indicated their role was to help dying patients come to terms with grief. Facilitating emotional care, another synthesised subtheme for patient‐centred care, involved nurses supporting patients as they come to terms with death.…”

Spotlight on Bereavement Care

“…Kurian et al . () studied the practice and beliefs of registered nurses (RNs) working in four adult ICUs at a hospital in the USA. The majority of RNs felt that support to bereaved families should be part of their routine work (68%, n = 75), and that ICU nurses have an important role to play in helping bereaved families come to terms with their grief (73%, n = 80).…”