A nurse tending to a glowing child, blending modern hospital with indigenous landscape.

Navigating Grief: Understanding the Experiences of Nurses Caring for Indigenous Children

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the emotional and cultural challenges faced by nursing teams dealing with the death of hospitalized Indigenous children and strategies for support and resilience."

The loss of a child is universally recognized as a profound and devastating experience. Within the healthcare system, nurses often find themselves at the forefront of this reality, especially when caring for children with terminal illnesses. When the child is from an Indigenous community, the complexities deepen, intertwining personal grief with cultural understanding and systemic challenges.

A descriptive, exploratory study, using a qualitative approach, was conducted to understand experiences of nurses, with the death of a hospitalized indigenous child and the feelings that emerged from this experience. The research underscores the emotional burden carried by nursing teams and highlights the need for culturally sensitive support systems.

This article aims to translate the complex findings of the original research into an accessible format, offering insights into the challenges faced by nurses and strategies for fostering resilience in the face of loss. By exploring the emotional, cultural, and systemic dimensions of this issue, we hope to provide a supportive resource for healthcare professionals and promote a more compassionate approach to care.

Understanding the Emotional Landscape of Nurses

A nurse tending to a glowing child, blending modern hospital with indigenous landscape.

The nursing team experiences intense emotions such as powerlessness, sadness, and pity when faced with the death of an indigenous child. The feeling of powerlessness stems from situations where their skills and knowledge are not enough to save the child, which leads to a sense of uselessness and despair. The sadness is rooted in witnessing the suffering of the child and family, amplified by cultural expressions of grief that deeply affect the nurses. Expressions of mercy and pity arise from witnessing and comforting the child, family as well as dealing with the limited and sometimes inaffordable treatment options available.

Feelings of guilt, anger, and frustration can also arise, especially when nurses have formed strong bonds with the child and family. Attachment and shared moments of hope can intensify the pain of loss. Sometimes, nurses develop defense mechanisms such as coldness and indifference to cope with frequent exposure to death. Some cope by developing strong reliance on their spirtuality and religion.

Powerlessness in the face of death and affordable health options.
Sadness from witnessing suffering.
Guilt and frustration when bonds are strong.
Spiritual faith as a coping mechanism.

Faith emerges as a significant coping mechanism, providing comfort and strength. Spirituality and religiosity are key in facing the death. Talking with friends and coworkers also serves as a coping strategy, providing a space to share feelings and find support. Finding support, not always available makes it difficult for nurses to provide support for the indigenous family as times of death. This communication barrier further complicates the nurses' ability to provide holistic care.

Moving Forward: Support and Systemic Changes

The well-being of nursing professionals is essential for providing compassionate care, especially when dealing with the death of Indigenous children. Healthcare organizations must prioritize mental health support, grief counseling, and culturally sensitive training to address the unique challenges faced by nurses. There should be educational initiatives to foster greater cultural understanding, respectful communication. Systemic changes, such as fair access to health insurance, are needed to ensure compassionate care for all.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary emotional challenges experienced by nurses when faced with the death of hospitalized Indigenous children?

When nurses experience the death of hospitalized Indigenous children, they often grapple with intense emotions. These can include feelings of powerlessness, stemming from the inability to alter the child's outcome, profound sadness from witnessing the child's and family's suffering, and sometimes guilt or frustration, especially when strong bonds have formed. Some may develop coping mechanisms, such as detachment, while others lean on spiritual faith. Addressing these emotional challenges requires comprehensive support systems within healthcare organizations.

What coping mechanisms do nurses commonly employ when dealing with the death of Indigenous children in their care, and how effective are these strategies?

Nurses use several coping mechanisms when dealing with the death of Indigenous children. Faith and spirituality often play a significant role, providing comfort and strength during difficult times. Talking with colleagues is another vital coping strategy, offering a space to share feelings and receive support. The availability of such support systems is crucial for the well-being of nurses in these emotionally demanding situations.

In what ways can systemic changes, such as health insurance policies, contribute to ensuring more compassionate care for Indigenous children, and what is the role of cultural sensitivity in this?

Systemic changes, specifically addressing fair access to health insurance, are crucial for ensuring compassionate care for Indigenous children. Lack of access to health insurance can limit treatment options, leading to feelings of helplessness and frustration among nurses. By advocating for equitable healthcare policies, we can better support both the children and the healthcare professionals caring for them. Overcoming communication barriers is also essential. Without it, the nurses' ability to provide holistic care is limited. Culturally sensitive training and resources must be readily available to nurses so they can better support Indigenous children and families.

What types of support and systemic changes are most needed within healthcare organizations to improve the well-being of nursing professionals caring for Indigenous children?

The research highlights a critical need for systemic and organizational support. Healthcare organizations should prioritize mental health support, grief counseling, and culturally sensitive training programs specifically designed to help nurses navigate the complexities of caring for Indigenous children. Educational initiatives should also focus on fostering cultural understanding and respectful communication to improve the overall care environment.

How can the emotional challenges faced by nurses caring for Indigenous children impact their overall well-being, and what are the potential long-term consequences?

The emotional challenges that arise when nurses care for Indigenous children can significantly impact their personal and professional lives, leading to burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion. Without adequate support and coping strategies, nurses may struggle to maintain their well-being and provide optimal care. This underscores the importance of ongoing support systems and self-care practices for healthcare professionals in these demanding roles.