Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change
Healthcare workers frequently experience emotional distress from repeated exposure to patient death, yet professional grief remains poorly recognized and inadequately supported. The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified these challenges, bringing professional grief into sharper focus. The purpose of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Health Services Insights |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/11786329251344772 |
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| author | Carolyn S. Phillips Katie Trainum Megan C. Thomas Hebdon |
| author_facet | Carolyn S. Phillips Katie Trainum Megan C. Thomas Hebdon |
| author_sort | Carolyn S. Phillips |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Healthcare workers frequently experience emotional distress from repeated exposure to patient death, yet professional grief remains poorly recognized and inadequately supported. The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified these challenges, bringing professional grief into sharper focus. The purpose of this scoping review was to comprehensively examine professional grief among healthcare workers (HCWs) across different professions and specialties, map existing literature, identify research gaps, and provide educational, clinical, and policy recommendations. This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO for literature from 2004 to 2024. Studies were screened based on inclusion criteria focusing on professional grief experiences of HCWs dealing with patient deaths. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies were included. Eighty-one publications were reviewed, with most studies published since 2020, highlighting increased attention post-COVID-19. Key findings identified significant individual (eg, early career vulnerability, lack of formal education), interpersonal (eg, patient demographics, relationship quality), and systemic factors (eg, emotional suppression culture, workload constraints) influencing professional grief. Existing interventions were predominantly peer-based and lacked demonstrated efficacy in reducing grief intensity. Measurement inconsistencies revealed discrepancies between qualitative and quantitative assessments of grief intensity, indicating a need for specialized measurement tools tailored to professional contexts. Professional grief among HCWs is multifaceted and deeply influenced by cultural, educational, and systemic barriers. Comprehensive strategies addressing these barriers must include structured educational curricula, ongoing clinical support programs, validated grief measurement tools, and institutional policies promoting open emotional expression. These approaches are essential to fostering resilience, enhancing professional well-being, and improving patient care outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59dc2faa532c48ea943ce128ca10db4a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1178-6329 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Services Insights |
| spelling | doaj-art-59dc2faa532c48ea943ce128ca10db4a2025-08-20T02:07:23ZengSAGE PublishingHealth Services Insights1178-63292025-06-011810.1177/11786329251344772Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for ChangeCarolyn S. Phillips0Katie Trainum1Megan C. Thomas Hebdon2School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, USASchool of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, USACollege of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USAHealthcare workers frequently experience emotional distress from repeated exposure to patient death, yet professional grief remains poorly recognized and inadequately supported. The COVID-19 pandemic further magnified these challenges, bringing professional grief into sharper focus. The purpose of this scoping review was to comprehensively examine professional grief among healthcare workers (HCWs) across different professions and specialties, map existing literature, identify research gaps, and provide educational, clinical, and policy recommendations. This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO for literature from 2004 to 2024. Studies were screened based on inclusion criteria focusing on professional grief experiences of HCWs dealing with patient deaths. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies were included. Eighty-one publications were reviewed, with most studies published since 2020, highlighting increased attention post-COVID-19. Key findings identified significant individual (eg, early career vulnerability, lack of formal education), interpersonal (eg, patient demographics, relationship quality), and systemic factors (eg, emotional suppression culture, workload constraints) influencing professional grief. Existing interventions were predominantly peer-based and lacked demonstrated efficacy in reducing grief intensity. Measurement inconsistencies revealed discrepancies between qualitative and quantitative assessments of grief intensity, indicating a need for specialized measurement tools tailored to professional contexts. Professional grief among HCWs is multifaceted and deeply influenced by cultural, educational, and systemic barriers. Comprehensive strategies addressing these barriers must include structured educational curricula, ongoing clinical support programs, validated grief measurement tools, and institutional policies promoting open emotional expression. These approaches are essential to fostering resilience, enhancing professional well-being, and improving patient care outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1177/11786329251344772 |
| spellingShingle | Carolyn S. Phillips Katie Trainum Megan C. Thomas Hebdon Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change Health Services Insights |
| title | Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change |
| title_full | Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change |
| title_fullStr | Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change |
| title_short | Hidden in Plain Sight: A Scoping Review of Professional Grief in Healthcare and Charting a Path for Change |
| title_sort | hidden in plain sight a scoping review of professional grief in healthcare and charting a path for change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/11786329251344772 |
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