Bereavement care to minimize bereaved parents' suffering in their lifelong journey towards healing

This article presents select findings from an interpretive phenomenological study which aimed to describe the lived experience of parental bereavement. Six parents, each of whom experienced the death of a child due to cancer at least one year prior, participated in conversational interviews to share what it has been like for them since their child's death. Heideggerian (1962) phenomenology provided the philosophical underpinnings of the study, while van Manen's (1997) phenomenological method guided data collection and analysis. From this methodological approach, a structure of the meaning of parental bereavement experience was revealed. Profound suffering emerged as one essential theme. Pertinent findings related to this theme are discussed. Parents share ways others might minimize their suffering and provide support in their lifelong journey towards healing. Findings will enhance nurses' practice of providing bereavement care, which is an expectation of quality palliative care.