Keywords

bereavement programs, congenital heart disease, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, neonatal loss, nursing, palliative care, spiritual care

 

Authors

  1. Holston, Jane Treadwell

Abstract

Abstract: Around 20,000 neonatal deaths occur each year, many from congenital heart defects such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Nurses are on the frontline of caring for families experiencing neonatal loss. Careful spiritual and cultural assessment, attention to beliefs, focusing on relationship, and helping families create legacy can assist with grieving and making meaning out of loss.