Transitional Togetherness: The changing nature of the parent-healthcare provider relationship when a child dies in the paediatric intensive care unit

This thesis explores the relationships between parents and healthcare providers when a child dies in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A constructivist grounded theory methodology was used to explore the experiences of 26 bereaved parents from 4 Australian PICUs. The theory developed, Transitional togetherness, demonstrates the ways in which the parent-healthcare provider relationship develops and changes across the child's illness trajectory, based on the changing needs of the parents. Three stages are identified and discussed: Welcoming expertise, Becoming a team, and Gradually disengaging.These findings provide a framework for understanding and working within the changing parent-healthcare provider relationship.