Abstract: Objective To explore the mediating role of the sense of meaning of life between professional grief and professional identity among intensive care unit（ICU） nurses. Methods From April to May 2022,262 ICU nurses from five hospitals in Guangzhou City were selected with convenience sampling and surveyed by using a self-developed questionnaire,the professional bereavement scale-accumulated global changes subscale,the meaning in life questionnaire,and the professional identity scale. Results The scores of the professional bereavement scale-accumulated global changes subscale among ICU nurses were （55.02±8.03）points,the scores of meaning in life questionnaire was （44.63±10.08）points,and the scores of professional identity scale was （109.38±24.14）points. The children's situation was a factor influencing the professional identity of ICU nurses（P<0.05）. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the sense of meaning of life was positively correlated with professional grief and professional identity（r=0.656,0.948,both P<0.01）,and the sense of meaning of life was the mediating variable between professional grief and professional identity. Conclusions The professional identity of ICU nurses is at a medium level,and the sense of meaning of life plays a complete mediating role between professional grief and professional identity. The clinical nursing managers should fully mobilize the positive motivation of nurses and take corresponding measures to make nurses recover from professional grief,enhance their the sense of meaning of life level,thus to improve their professional identity.

Key words: Intensive care unit nurses, Professional grief, Sense of meaning of life, Professional identity, Mediating effect