Communication of bad news in the context of neonatal palliative care: experience of intensivist nurses

Abstract

Objectives: To know the experiences of nurses in neonatal intensive care units in the face of the process of communicating bad news to the family of newborns in palliative care. Methods: Study with a descriptive qualitative approach, in which 17 professionals participated. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview script, from December/2018 to February/2019, and submitted to content analysis. Results: Four theoretical categories emerged, with 11 subcategories inserted: meanings attributed to bad news; nursing as a support for the family; difficulties in dealing with the process of communicating bad news; nursing and involvement with the family’s suffering. Final considerations: The challenges to deal with the situation are related to lack of preparation, impotence, and subjectivities. The results broaden knowledge on the subject and enable the improvement of nursing care in this context.