Surrogate Trauma in Nurses Providing Pediatric Palliative Care: A Phenomenological Study

The aim of this study was to deeply examine the experiences of proxy grief among nurses providing pediatric palliative care. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with 16 nurses working in the pediatric ward of a hospital located in the northern region of the country. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method. The analysis revealed 3 themes (challenges experienced while caring for children in palliative care; secondary trauma and coping processes; proxy trauma and professional resilience) and 9 sub-themes (emotional strain during care, establishing an empathetic bond, emotional exhaustion, traumatic experiences, seeking psychological support, religious coping methods, developing a professional approach, resilience and acceptance, and motivation to continue in the profession). The study found that nurses providing pediatric palliative care experienced significant psychosocial stress. Pediatric nurses were particularly challenged emotionally when caring for palliative patients. In this context, it is important to develop stress-coping skills to help nurses manage vicarious trauma. Strengthening nurses psychologically and spiritually will positively impact their professional lives, which in turn will enhance the quality of care they provide.