Grief management: A qualitative study of the continuing education needs of oncology nurses related to the bereavement process

Adult oncology nurses experience grief and go through a bereavement process in clinical practice while caring for cancer patients. These grief and bereavement processes can lead to emotional distress if oncology nurses are not prepared for these deep-rooted emotions and must be equipped to share personal feelings and difficult moments related to nursing care with colleagues. The purpose of the study was to explore grief management and the continuing educational needs of oncology nurses related to the bereavement process. Mezirow's transformative learning theory guided this qualitative grounded theory study design. The research question examined the current and previous grief management experiences of oncology nurses, the impact of nursing educational preparation on grief management experiences, and the teaching strategies related to grief management and bereavement processes that should be included in a continuing education program. Analysis of the data resulted in the creation of the categories including magnitude of loss, practicality, and practice of understanding emotionality, personal walk with the spirit, and expression and essence of love. The oncology nurses portrayed experiencing magnitude of loss, which leads to dilemma of dying and imprints of patients' death on the souls and memories of the nurses. These must be balanced with the personal walk with the spirit and expression and essence of love with nursing care. Oncology nurses must create balance and boundaries of care giving with families and friends, which promotes nurses' survivorship and self-care of nurses' emotionality to help patients and their families cope with their pending losses. A good death must be promoted for the dying patient and their families by ensuring that compassionate care and the power of love are evident in nursing care. Situational dialogue and peer-supported educational outlets would address the abstract nature of death and dying.