Research in gerontological nursing
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The grief that nurses experience when patients and residents die can be complex and has been linked to both problematic (e.g., depression) and beneficial (e.g., gains in coping) outcomes. In this study, 380 nursing assistants working in the nursing home setting were surveyed to gain an understanding of the relationship between grief and well-being. ⋯ Conversely, participants who experienced greater growth from their grief reported significantly lower levels of burnout, higher levels of psychological and physical well-being, and higher levels of job satisfaction. These findings suggest that grief may be an important determinant of well-being in nursing assistants, which, in turn, may impact quality of care in the nursing home.