The Lived Experience of Work-Related Loss and Grief Among Pediatric Oncology Nurses

Pediatric oncology nurses experience loss and grief in their daily clinical practices as a result of working directly with pediatric cancer patients and their families. These experiences of loss and grief can pose many threats to pediatric oncology nurses' emotional, physical, and psychological well-being. Although there have been numerous suggestions from professionals indicating that the loss and grief of professional nurses warrant investigation, there continues to be a lack of research in this area. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of work-related losses for pediatric oncology nurses. Analysis of the data yielded the themes of connectedness, alienation, action, maintaining control, and a changed perspective. Awareness of the psychological needs of pediatric oncology nurses will enable educators and administrators to provide the support needed for these nurses to process work-related losses and continue their professional practice in this specialty area.