Grief reactions and coping strategies of Muslim nurses dealing with death

Abstract

Background: An intensive care unit (ICU) features high mortality rates. Witnessing subsequent deaths may affect nurses psychologically and spiritually. Islam has an influence on Muslims' life and death. Nevertheless, little is known about Muslim intensive care nurses' experiences of grief in dealing with the deaths of patients.

Aim and objectives: This study aimed to describe the grief reactions and coping strategies of Muslim nurses in dealing with the death of patients.

Design: This is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach.

Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. Fourteen participants from an ICU in an Indonesian tertiary public hospital participated in this study. Data were analysed by thematic analysis. Trustworthiness was established by Lincoln and Guba's criteria.

Results: The findings identified four reactions of grief, four factors influencing reactions of grief, and three coping strategies used in dealing with death in an ICU. The reactions of nurse's grief were crying, being sad, feeling disappointed, and feeling guilty. These reactions were related to several factors including the circumstances of the patient's death, nurse's expectation of patient's recovery, relationships with the patient, and the reactions of family. Coping management strategies used by nurses in dealing with their grief comprised: sharing with colleagues, avoiding dying and death situations, and engaging in spirituality.

Conclusions: The Muslim ICU nurse participants experienced their grieving through a variety of psychological reactions influenced by several factors. Personal coping strategies were revealed in dealing with their grief. However, avoiding dying and death situations affected their duty.

Relevance to clinical practice: Attention to nurses' grief should be paid to maintain their psychological well-being and quality of end-of-life care. Providing formal support to enhance grief management is recommended.

Keywords: bereavement; grief; intensive care; intensive care nurses; qualitative research.