Page 26 - Nursing Scope Number 2

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TICU Bereavement Initiative
This bereavement initiative started as a discussion during a Trauma ICU night shift shared governance meeting.
This question was asked:
“What can we do for families when their loved one dies, other than send them away with a white plastic bag lled with personal effects?”
Making blankets to gift to families of patients that were actively dying or having their care limited quickly became a focus of the nightshift nursing staff. The blankets were intended to be kept at the foot of the patient’s bed and then given to the family to take home after their loved one passed.
As time went on, more staff wanted to become involved. Some made blankets and others developed a set of inspirational and spiritual bereavement cards. Both are intended to be given to families as they began their grieving process.
The positive response to our efforts has been overwhelming. Over the past 18 months, bereavement cards and more than 35 blankets have been given to grieving families as a small memory of their loved one.
Our fellow ICU teammates in the Burn Unit and MICU have also begun their own bereavement programs. Unit-speci c bereavement cards were printed and many more blankets are being made. We have blankets made by our own staff, families and friends, individuals and groups from our local communities, and as far away as Florida (thanks to social media).
Our ICU families are appreciative of our efforts and comforted by the small remembrance they can hold on to as they leave the hospital for the last time.
Our ICU nurses feel that they are better able to serve families as we all strive to provide every patient and family the highest quality of care delivered with compassion.
Carrie Collins, RN General Duty Nurse