Perceptions and significance of patient deaths for pediatric critical care nurses

This study provides nursing administrators with data regarding stressors of the pediatric critical care nurse in order of priority. Death of patients was the only item isolated and compared to the other stress categories. It is suggested that death of patients be compared to all other items on the audit. The authors recommend expanding this study by asking two additional questions: Does the amount of time spent caring for dying patients correlate with the nurses' estimate of patient deaths and is there a relationship between the time spent caring for patients who die and perception of death as a stressor? This information can be utilized at the unit level in the development of stress management activities. At the hospital administrator level, this information can assist in the expansion of retention and recruitment strategies.