Sentimentos e reações da equipe de enfermagem diante da morte na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal

Abstract

Initial considerations: Neonatal mortality is a condition present in intensive care units and affects a significant number of newborns in Brazil and worldwide. It is important to prepare health professionals to meet the demands of parents and family members at this time of mourning. The premature death of a human being can affect not only the psyche of the grieving family, but also the health professionals involved. In this context, considering the possibility of psychological effects for nursing professionals who provide assistance in the process of newborn death, it is understood the importance of studying the feelings and reactions of the nursing team when faced with death in neonatology. Thus, this study aims to understand the feelings and reactions of the nursing team when faced with neonatal death in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Method: This is a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study conducted with the nursing team of three NICUs of a reference maternity hospital in the state of Piauí. The inclusion criteria were: being a nurse or nursing technician who works in these units, being over 18 years old, having worked there for at least 6 months, and who agreed to participate in the study. Data collection was performed through a semi-structured interview and the data were analyzed through thematic-categorical content analysis. The study followed the ethical precepts of resolution no. 466 of 2012, of the National Health Council, and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Centro Universitário Santo Agostinho. Results and Discussion: Sixteen nursing professionals were interviewed, including 5 nurses and 7 nursing technicians, whose responses resulted in 4 thematic categories, including: feelings towards neonatal death, reactions towards neonatal death, emotional impacts related to frequent exposure to neonatal death and nursing care for newborns and families. The categories and statements of the participants sparked discussions about ways of coping with death, professional mourning, the resilience acquired by professionals throughout their professional experience and also about the need for a deeper understanding of death and mourning during academic training. Final Considerations: The study revealed that death is still surrounded by negative feelings, especially in the hospital environment, where the main objective is healing. Furthermore, it was also understood that in addition to feelings of sadness, emotional distress and guilt, death also arouses empathy and compassion in the professionals who experience it, and in some situations, it also leads to professional distancing as a way of coping. It was possible to achieve the objectives proposed by the research, despite the limitations of the study, in addition to contributing to the scientific literature and the service that hosted the study.