A equipe de enfermagem na atenção ao processo de morrer e morte na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal: revisão integrativa

Death is present in the daily lives of health professionals, generating different emotions, especially in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which makes the process challenging. This integrative review aims to identify scientific publications from the last 10 years (2014-2023) about the performance of the nursing team in the process of dying and death in the context of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The search for studies took place in the LILACS, MEDLINE and BDENF databases. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the studies were entered into the Rayyan program to be reviewed and selected by peers. Subsequently, the complete reading and data extraction were performed. To assist in the analysis and categorization, the WebQda program was used. Based on the results, it was identified that the process of dying and death in the NICU is characterized as a challenge for the nursing team, especially when it refers to the bond created between the professional, the baby and their family. Furthermore, the nursing team's experience during the process of dying and death of a baby is permeated by feelings such as suffering and frustration. Furthermore, when coping with dying and death, professionals use some strategies such as denial, escape, isolation, distancing and crying. It is concluded that, faced with the process of dying and death in the NICU, the nursing team lacks training and institutional support, in addition to not participating in the elaboration of the end-of-life care plan for babies.