WHEN THE PATIENT DEPARTS: THE UNRECOGNIZED GRIEF OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS – AN EXPERIENCE REPORT IN THE HOSPITAL CONTEXT

Abstract

Grief is a natural process in the face of loss; however, within healthcare, the suffering experienced by professionals due to patient death tends to be silenced and neglected. This experience report describes the conduction of a workshop in a public hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, aiming to promote reflections on unrecognized grief among healthcare workers. Twenty-one professionals from various sectors and backgrounds participated, creating an interprofessional space for listening and sharing. Qualitative analysis of the records identified three thematic categories: experienced grief, related to the subjective experience of loss; unrecognized grief, characterized by institutional and social silencing; and coping strategies, highlighting mutual support practices and mechanisms of emotional processing. It is concluded that the workshop constituted a relevant space for the expression of affects, emphasizing the need for institutional policies that address the emotional care of professionals and promote more humanized care practices.