Fostering Resilience over Multiple-losses for Nursing Staff in the Palliative Care Unit: Whole Person Approach – Part 1
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objectives: “Bereavement overload” due to multiple losses is one of the stressors for the nursing staff working at Palliative Care Unit (PCU), which may be especially tough to those with less exposure to such situation. A support program was developed for the nursing staff of newly-opened PCU (April 2011) in order to foster resilience and wellness despite multiple losses. We conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the support program with “whole person approach” – consisting of 3 modules; 1) lecture on grief and bereavement (mind), 2) experiential workshop on body awareness and relaxation (body/spirit), and 3) group discussion (mind/spirit), for the increased sense of self-efficacy, awareness of their inner healing power, and fostering mutual understanding and support.
Methods: 20 nurses were randomly assigned to two groups for the action research project. Data included participant observation, individual and focus group interviews with one of the investigators. The support program package was offered from October to December 2012 (A) and from January to March 2013 (B) respectively, using wait-list control method. Self-efficacy scale was used at the base line, at the completion of package A, and at the completion of package B. Participants also answered brief survey after each module, followed by semi-structured interview.
Results: The self-efficacy score initially showed decline of both groups (intervention/control) , reflecting the “tough two months” with the highest number of the total deaths as well as deaths within 5 days post admission. However, intervention group showed more gradual decline comparing to the control group, plus higher elevation 3 months later, which may indicate some effect of the program.
Conclusions: The support program was positively received and contributed to the nursing staff’s increased sense of self-efficacy and resilience over “bereavement overload.” Continued program development is in progress based on the feedback.
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. Creative Comons 4.0 CC-BY
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).