Perspective of neonatal nurses on spiritual accompaniment of family members in the face of the death of a neonatal patient

Abstract

Objective: To describe the perspective of neonatal nurses on the spiritual accompaniment of family members in the face of the death of a neonatal patient. Material and Method: Qualitative, descriptive study carried out in the intensive care unit of a public hospital in the city of Chiclayo, Peru. The sample was non-probabilistic and determined by using convenience sampling. Data saturation was reached with 12 nurses. Data collection was carried out between August and September 2019, using semi-structured interviews and prior informed consent. Content analysis was conducted in three phases: Pre-analysis, coding and categorization. The ethical principles of the Helsinki Declaration and the criteria of scientific rigor were considered: credibility, confirmability and transferability. Results: Two categories were identified: (a) humane treatment, empathy and religious practices before death, (b) compassion and comfort during death. Conclusion: The death of a neonatal patient in the intensive care unit is shown to be a fatal and incomprehensible event for parents. The nursing professional offers spiritual accompaniment, based on humane treatment, empathy and permission to perform religious practices such as prayer and baptism. Prior to the event and at the time of death, they show compassion and provide comfort through hope in a higher being, give a hug and allow the mother to stay a few moments with her baby, before performing postmortem care and administrative procedures.