Grief in an acute paediatric intensive care unit

Introduction: In the Information Age with access to advanced health technology, the death of a child is unexpected, leaving parents, families and the community with limited resources to draw upon when faced with this tragedy.

Objectives: This presentation reviews the social work role in an acute paediatric intensive care unit. Examining the environment and tools needed to assist families to navigate this unfamiliar territory of parental loss.

Approach: An acute medical environment relies on information being immediately processed and actioned. Validating parallel thought enables families to engage in the crisis confronting them while being guided by the language and world they know.

Practice implications: It is common to hear clinical staff refer to parents as being in denial. This approach draws on theory and practice wisdom to create an environment and provide tools for families to be present for the death of their child without needing their acceptance of the new reality.

Conclusion: In an acute medical environment, professionals at times can have unrealistic expectations of families facing loss. The social work role facilitates communication and participation enhancing meaning-making opportunities aimed at reducing the risk of complicated grief and minimising regret.

9289 Grief in an acute paediatric ICU (806kb pdf)