A concept analysis of nurses' grief.

BACKGROUND: The psychological and personal well-being of nurses can change the way they care for patients. If nurses' grief is not properly managed, the nursing shortage will continue to grow. Consequently, a need exists for the identification of nurses' grief and effective interventions to manage grief to ensure the successful development and growth of the nursing profession.

OBJECTIVES: This concept analysis sought to properly define nurses' grief and the role it plays in the day-to-day requirements of nurses.

METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted using CINAHL®, BioMed, EBSCOhost, and MEDLINE® and the following key words.

FINDINGS: Nurses' grief must be incorporated into the nursing curriculum and addressed by employers. In particular, facility leaders should help promote a healthy work environment and address the need for proper grief management. Educators, managers, and nurses can benefit from acknowledging the current gap in managing nurses' grief.