title: Ritual: the final expression of care.
abstract: Hospice nurses know that all their patients will die. There are several potential benefits of including rituals and healing practices into the hospice care setting for staff. Evidence suggests that not only does it provide an outlet for hospice workers to express their grief and reflect on their work in an accepting environment; providing closure for their patient's passing but it has also been shown to decrease the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. This article discusses the important aspects of grief rituals and provides an illustrative example of one such ritual.
authors: Orvis School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA. running@unr.edu
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Running
authors: Lauren Woodward
authors: LW
authors: Tolle
authors: Deb
authors: D
authors: Girard
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D019452:Terminally Ill; D014481:United States