Abstract
BACKGROUND: Occupational grief, a psychological response arising from repeated exposure to patient suffering and death, is increasingly recognized among clinical nurses. This emotional burden not only impairs mental health but also affects professional functioning and patient care quality. Despite its relevance, there has been no comprehensive synthesis of the tools used to assess occupational grief, its contributing factors, and potential interventions. METHODS: This scoping review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We systematically searched 9 English and Chinese databases - including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and others - up to December 30, 2024. Studies were included if they assessed occupational grief among clinical nurses using validated tools and reported influencing factors. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Descriptive synthesis was conducted on measurement tools, associated factors, intervention strategies, and related health outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 14 cross-sectional studies were included, encompassing over 4000 clinical nurses from diverse departments such as intensive care units, oncology, and emergency care. The revised grief experience inventory, Pandemic Grief Scale, and Death Coping Self-Efficacy Scale were among the most frequently used tools. Occupational grief was found to be significantly associated with psychological factors, professional characteristics, and environmental or organizational elements. Proposed interventions included psychological detachment training, grief education, organizational support, and structured peer support programs. CONCLUSION: Occupational grief is prevalent among clinical nurses and is shaped by a complex interplay of personal, professional, and organizational factors. Standardized tools like The revised grief experience inventory and Death Coping Self-Efficacy Scale have enabled more consistent assessment, but further longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted. Enhancing nurses' coping capacity through education, support systems, and workplace reforms may help mitigate the negative impact of occupational grief.