Spiritual Challenges Experienced by Nurses in Neonatal End of Life: A Qualitative Study

Background The literature reviews show that taking care of dying newborns for a nurse is associated with stress and anxiety, and nurses will be faced with many challenges, the present study aimed to explain the spiritual challenges experienced by nurses in neonatal end of life in the NICU. Materials and Methods The present study was conducted with a qualitative method ­and "purposive" sampling. The study environment was­ NICU in the hospitals of Zahedan, Iran. Semi-structured interviews­ used for interview and data collection. A number of 24 participants with inclusion criteria were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis method was used with the conventional approach and inductive method with Graneheim and Lundman approach. Results Data analysis explored were categorized in three main themes: spiritual challenge of neonatal care with two-categories (palliative care, and care with love and affection); psychological / spiritual support challenges of family with two categories (spiritual support of family, psychological support of family), and nurses' spiritual distress with one category (nurse's trauma in neonatal care). Conclusion In this study three themes were obtained: 1- Spiritual challenge of neonatal care with two-categories (palliative care, and care with love and affection); 2- Psychological / spiritual support challenges of family with two categories (spiritual support of family, psychological support of family), and 3- The nurses' spiritual distress with one category (nurse's trauma in neonatal care).