Grief and Coping Strategies of Nurses Following Patient Death at the Konongo-Odumasi Government Hospital, Ghana

Nurses working in various patient care departments are exposed to different traumatic situations, patient suffering, and death in their routine care. This study investigated grief and coping experiences amongst registered nurses working in various care departments of a major government health facility in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

A descriptive cross-sectional survey amongst nurses was conducted. A quota-sampling technique was applied to yield a representative sample of 79 nurses working in different wards of Konongo-Odumasi Government Hospital in Konong, Ghana. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Standard descriptive statistics (e.g. frequency and proportions) were used to summarize the survey data. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, v. 20.

The majority of nurses (63%) reported feelings of grief following the death of patients they had cared for. Most respondents (89%) who did not acknowledge a grief experience did not grieve out of fear or as a show of professionalism. Some reported impacts of grief included insomnia (39%), loss of appetite (51%), tiredness (8%), feeling of depression (24%), and reduced functionality at work and home (27%). Common coping strategies for dealing with grief following patient death included physical exercise (67%), engaging in spiritual practices (51%), listening to music (47%), and discussing with other colleagues (42%). Only 47% of nurses reported access to professional counseling.

Regular training on effective grief coping strategies and emotional support for nurses caring for the dying may positively affect the health and well-being of nurses and improve the quality of care for both the dying patient and their families. Providing professional counseling for nurses is also suggested.