Korean J Women Health Nurs.  2017 Sep;23(3):166-180. 10.4069/kjwhn.2017.23.3.166.

Delivery Room Nurses' Experiences of Caring for Stillborn Babies and Their Parents

• Jang HY
• Chung CW

• KMID: 2424152
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2017.23.3.166

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to have an in-depth understanding of delivery room nurses'experiences of caring for stillborn babies and their parents.
METHODS
After obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board, data were collected from March 1 to August 30, 2016. A total of six nurses participated in the study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted and the data subsequently analyzed.
RESULTS
Using thematic analysis, six themes were defined and refined: Emotional distress as a result of encountering stillborn babies; Caring for the deceased baby; Concerns for the mother's pain; Consideration for the father; Conflicts between accepting and dismissing parents' requests; and Strong mindset for the stillborn babies and their parents.
CONCLUSION
The results showed that the nurses' experiences of caring for stillborn babies and their parents might be a difficult and lonely process. However, it could also be a process of attaining maturity by finding meaning and value in one's work. It would be helpful for the delivery room nurses to share examples of effective communication, train through simulation, and learn useful strategies that each nurse can use.

Keyword

Stillbirth; Nurses; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Delivery Rooms*
Ethics Committees, Research
Fathers
Humans
Parents*
Qualitative Research
Stillbirth