Best Practice Model for Nurses Experiencing Work-Related Bereavement

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to present a best practice model to support nurses experiencing work-related bereavement to prevent complicated grief following the death of a patient. The death of a patient is a universal experience for nurses. Nurses are at risk for experiencing complicated grief due to limited time to process patient deaths. Review of the literature in PubMed was conducted using the keywords: nurse, death, patient death, attitudes, nurses' response and dying. The project produced a best practice model for nurses experiencing work-related bereavement. The Helping Overcome Patient Expiration (HOPE) Model gives nurses experiencing work-related bereavement options for support. It incorporates a monthly nurse's grief support meeting, Zen room, handout and workplace memorial. The project culminated in a hypothetical implementation and evaluation plan of the HOPE Model. The proposed best practice model for nurses experiencing work-related bereavement would reduce possible stressors, prevent maladaptive coping, and promote nurse retention in hospitals.