How to Navigate Grief and Loss as a Nurse

Grief is part of the job, but that doesn't make it any easier.

As nurses, we see people at their most vulnerable. We celebrate victories, but we also stand at the bedside when families say goodbye. No amount of training can truly prepare you for the emotional weight that comes with loss. And if you’ve ever felt like you were supposed to "just move on" after a tough shift, you’re not alone.

In fact, a recent study found that 73.4% of nurses reported sadness, 58.5% felt helplessness, and 43.6% experienced regret following a patient's death.

Here’s the truth: You are human. Your grief matters. And learning how to navigate it can make a real difference for your own health and for the patients and families you continue to care for.

How to Navigate Grief and Loss as a Nurse

1. Give Yourself Permission to Grieve

It’s easy to jump from one patient to the next without pausing. But pushing down your feelings doesn’t make them disappear — it just makes them harder to manage later. Let yourself acknowledge the loss. Whether it’s taking a moment of silence after a code, saying a quiet goodbye, or simply taking deep breaths, small acts of recognition help honor your emotions.

Grieving doesn’t make you weak. It makes you real.

2. Find Your People

Talking with a coworker who understands what it's like can be incredibly healing. Sometimes you don't need advice. You just need someone who nods and says, "Yeah, that was hard."

If you don't feel comfortable opening up at work, seek out a trusted friend, therapist, or support group. You are not meant to carry this weight alone.

Almost two-thirds of nurses (62%) experience burnout. It's especially common among younger nurses, with 69% of nurses under 25 reporting burnout. Much of that burnout ties back to unresolved grief. Sharing the load can make it lighter.

3. Create Small Rituals of Closure

Rituals help the brain process transitions, and nursing is full of constant emotional transitions. Something as simple as washing your hands mindfully after a loss, writing the patient's initials in a private journal, or dedicating a quiet moment on your drive home can help you close one emotional chapter before opening the next. You don't have to make a grand gesture. It just has to mean something to you.

4. Protect Your Own Energy

Grief can sneak up on you, especially when you’re physically drained. Protect your time outside of work like it’s sacred. Sleep enough. Hydrate. Eat meals that nourish you. Move your body, even if it’s just a short walk around the block.

Self-care isn't selfish. It's survival. And it doesn't have to be perfect — it just has to happen.

When you’re constantly pouring from an empty cup, you can start feeling disconnected from patients and yourself. Little acts of self-kindness help keep your heart open without running it dry.

5. Talk to a Professional if You Need To

Sometimes grief stays with us longer than we expect. If you find yourself feeling numb, irritable, constantly exhausted, or struggling to enjoy anything outside of work, it’s okay — and necessary — to seek professional help.

Therapists, grief counselors, and even nurse-specific mental health programs exist to help nurses like you heal. According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of people who receive therapy benefit somehow, and the average person who receives therapy is better off after treatment than 80% of those who don't. You deserve support, just like you give it to others every day. There is no shame in asking for help. You are worth it.

Final Thoughts

Being a nurse means being a witness to life’s most challenging moments. It also means holding a kind of strength that most people never have to summon. Grief will always be part of the work, but it doesn’t have to define, overwhelm, or isolate you.

Feel it. Honor it. Heal from it. Your grief is a sign that you cared deeply — and that’s something the world needs now more than ever.