| Sumario: | In Aotearoa New Zealand, it is estimated that one in four women experience a pregnancy that ends in whakatahe (miscarriage). A surgical procedure and hospital inpatient stay is sometimes required. In this highly medicalised context, the cultural needs of wāhine (women) Māori are often overlooked. Due to the lack of awareness of tikanga Māori (traditional cultural practices) amongst nursing staff, a quality improvement project was initiated in 2023 in a ward setting of a tertiary hospital. The aim was to incorporate tikanga principles into clinical practice for the management of miscarriage of pregnancy less than 21 weeks' gestation. A kaupapa Māori approach informed the project design. Data collected during the project included a review of hospital policies and guidelines, a review of literature and other publications that addressed tikanga Māori principles during birthing and miscarriage, and consultation with Māori midwives. Using Te Whare Tapa Whā as a framework, the findings from these sources applied relevant tikanga principles to the clinical context of nurses caring for wāhine Māori and their whānau (extended family). A subsequent study day for nurses has increased their knowledge and confidence to incorporate tikanga Māori into their everyday practice, leading to observable changes. This outcome points to the need to invest in the education, knowledge and confidence of nurses in the use of tikanga Māori in ways that support wāhine Māori and whānau during a time of loss and grief. When nurses understand and know how to apply Te Whare Tapa Whā to their practice, it is possible to improve the experience of health services for wāhine Māori.
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