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CS75
WHAT DO WE DO NOW? An Innovative Nursing Approach, Assisting Families Through the Bereavement Process
By: A. Marin, P. Spencer & D. Lyman; University Medical Center, Tuscon, AZ
For further information, please contact: amarin@umcaz.edu
PURPOSE: The purpose of the quality improvement project is to improve bereavement support for the family, friends, and parents who have lost a loved one at our hospital. A secondary goal of the project is to heighten awareness that nursing care, in these circumstances, often means shifting the focus from the dying patient to the living survivors. For the critical care nurse, this can often mean a paradigm shift in thinking.
PROBLEM: Bereavement resources and materials for the survivors in our hospital were scarce. Traditionally, the only resources included a list of funeral homes as a part of the patient information death packet. Educational support for the staff on distributing the resources and opening communication related to bereavement was also limited.
EVAL/OUTCOME: A multidisciplinary team of nurses, child life specialists, and social workers met to discuss the problem. Bereavement packets, now called “Next Steps”, were created and implementation was trialed in two critical care units, and individualized to the needs of the family. These packets include: community resources, information on grief and loss and information for children. Pragmatic information, such as guidance for funeral arrangements and financial concerns are also provided. Keepsakes are offered to families if they choose. Responses from both families and staff have been overwhelmingly positive. The packets have provided nurses with a tool to acknowledge loss, provide support, and address important bereavement issues. Our vision for the future is to achieve consistent care of the survivors through bereavement support. The hospital-wide implementation of the bereavement packets and keepsake items is currently in progress.
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