Date of Award

Spring 5-2017

Document Type

Master's Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy and Counseling

Committee Director

Donna Kaiser

Committee Member

Darlene Green

Abstract

The amount of resources for grief management for oncology nurses who experience professional bereavement is scarce. This review of literature found just four studies based on current solutions that have been provided for oncology nurses in addressing their patient related grief. All of the studies supported that providing resources to address bereavement helped in resolving grief, reflecting, expressing feelings, and healing. This thesis explores factors that exacerbate professional bereavement such as stressors within the work environment, the lack of supportive resources, and the scarcity of research pertaining to how oncology nurses process the death of their patients. Additionally, art therapy is explored in relation to grief and loss, and how art therapy can be beneficial to oncology nurses in managing patient related bereavement. Based on the literature, solutions and recommendations for the oncology profession and implications for art therapy practice were determined. The major findings of this thesis consisted of the need for more support groups to further assist oncology nurses in addressing their unresolved bereavement from their dying patients, bereavement education for oncology nurses, and additional research based on grief and loss for both the oncology and art therapy fields of practice. The recommendations for helping oncology nurses manage their patient related grief include developing more resources to support nurses with their bereavement, and further research on professional bereavement in order to spread awareness in the severity of grief and loss that oncology nurses have experienced.

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