Using Nursing Research Findings to Meet the Needs of Grieving Spouses

This article describes the utilization of nursing research findings in a coronary care setting. A standardized nursing care plan, based on Hampe's eight research-identified needs of grieving spouses, was developed by staff nurses in an intensive care unit. The 13 spouses of acutely ill coronary patients who had received specific nursing interventions reported more of their needs were met by nurses than did 13 spouses on whom base-line data were collected prior to the adoption of systematic nursing interventions.