Making time to grieve

Front-line staff often form close bonds with patients and their families, especially on units where prolonged stays are frequent. They enter their lives at critical junctures and become partners, rather than observers. That’s the case on C3, the Oncology & G.I. Medicine unit at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre. Many of the patients there are very ill, and it’s not uncommon for them to die in the hospital.

Losing patients can take a toll on staff, especially nurses. In the fast-paced environment of the unit, it can be difficult to take time to process the grief that follows.

Staff on C3 have developed a simple but highly effective way to make sure nurses have a chance to grieve after a patient dies. Watch the video below to learn more.