title: Working through grief and loss: oncology nurses' perspectives on professional bereavement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine facilitators and barriers to managing patient loss from the combined perspectives of oncology nurses and to extract essential components of a supportive intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative, descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  The comprehensive National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center of a mid-Atlantic university teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  34 nurses from inpatient and outpatient adult and pediatric oncology units.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were held with oncology staff nurses to identify challenges regarding work-related bereavement, current support for managing grief and loss, and how to support interpersonal functioning and resiliency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Work-related bereavement, bereavement support, and interventions and management strategies for bereavement and loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two primary themes emerged: dimensions of work-related loss and working through bereavement. Participants also provided many concrete suggestions for the creation of a supportive self-care environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support issues were numerous, multilevel, and varied. However, addressing those concerns can improve job satisfaction and decrease compassion fatigue. The findings lay the foundation for appropriate interventions to assist nurses in managing those situations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administrators, managers, and individuals interested in furthering the multifaceted goals of oncology care, including nurses themselves, are challenged to create and maintain mutually supportive environments for providing optimal care to patients and families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute and Chronic Care, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. jwenzel@son.jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaha
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klimmek
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krumm
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001601:Bereavement; D017144:Focus Groups; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support