D. Reny1, S. Root1, K. Chreiman1, R. Browning1, C. Sims1 1University Of Pennsylvania,Trauma, Surgical Critical Care And Emergency Surgery,Philadelphia, PA, USA
Introduction: Gun violence remains a staggering public healthcare crisis in the United States with over 11,000 deaths annually. Although viewing of the body after violent crime is an essential component of the grieving process, this practice is not universally practiced in the trauma bay and may not be supported by nursing. This study investigates how trauma nurses perceive bereavement and the potential barriers to family viewing following death by gun violence.
Methods: A survey designed to assess demographics, current practices, knowledge of policies, and personal beliefs regarding family viewing after violent crime was sent electronically to the 3,000 members of the Society of Trauma Nurses. In addition to demographic questions, participants were asked to rank the importance of 14 barriers to viewing on a scale of 1 (least important) to 6 (most important). Descriptive analysis and perception of barriers between those who did and did not permit viewing were compared using Mann Whitney tests. *p<00.5=significant.
Results: Of the 232 participants, the majority were white, female nurses (86%) between the ages of 30 and 60 years who worked at a Level 1 or 2 trauma center (83%) in an urban or suburban setting (58% and 30%). Only 14% had a written hospital policy surrounding viewing; and the majority did not know if the police (64%) or medical examiner (69%) had written policies. Despite lack of clear guidelines, 68% reported that viewing did routinely occur, but only 36.7% permitted touching. Race of the victim did not correlate with viewing. Primary barriers included legal concerns, safety, and a perception that the trauma bay was not designed for viewing. These were ranked significantly higher by nurses who did not permit viewing.
Conclusion: Although family viewing after gun violence frequently occurs in the trauma bay, there are significant legal concerns despite the lack of formal policies. Collaboration with police and medical examiners could mitigate these fears while promoting a safe and more family-centered experience.
