Bereavement resources
Our bereavement resources help those experiencing grief and those who care for them. Addressing common, unique, and complex bereavement care issues and topics, these in-depth resources help you stay up to date on best practices and current happenings.
Investing in Resolve Through Sharing (RTS)
Research shows that caring for dying patients and their families is the most anxiety-producing situation for nurses and other professionals. Preparation helps you feel confident that you can make a difference. Bereavement training helps decrease anxiety, leading to increased staff satisfaction and retention and better care for patients and families. Learn why you should invest in the RTS standard of care at your organization.
Perinatal Palliative Care Position Statement
Practicing perinatal palliative care improves certain outcome measures, facilitates goal identification and guided decision-making, and provides opportunities for meaning-making for staff and families. A fetus, newborn, or pregnant person should receive appropriate support when there are indications of a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. Organizational commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism, as well as professional education and well-being, ensure excellent perinatal palliative care. Our position statement provides you with essential information, including definitions and a list of myths and facts.
Cooling a Baby’s Body After Perinatal Death Position Statement
Some believe a baby’s body should be cooled after death to allow for optimal contact with loved ones in the hospital setting. This isn’t based on evidence. Our position statement provides you with essential information, including definitions and a list of myths and facts.
Responding in the Moment
Empathic communication is of utmost importance during every interaction with someone who is grieving. This guide on responding in the moment includes sample scenarios and scripts as well as a list of helpful and unhelpful things to say.
A pioneer in bereavement care
Rana Limbo, PhD, RN, FAAN, began her career in postpartum care and labor and delivery, and went on to co-found RTS, an innovative method for educating healthcare professionals about bereavement. Now retired, she supports RTS as its director emerita. As a nurse, researcher, educator, and leader, she has changed countless lives.
Interview with RTS director emerita Rana Limbo
Hear Dr. Limbo discuss the history of RTS and perinatal bereavement and her significant contributions in this interview.
Theory development of Guided Participation blog post
Karen Pridham, PhD, RN, FAAN, reflects on her journey of developing and advancing Guided Participation, and shares how conversations during car rides with Rana Limbo contributed to its development.
Award-winning bereavement publications
Find bereavement publications by grief expert and RTS director emerita Rana Limbo in our bookstore. The following are honored with American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year awards:
- Handbook of Perinatal and Neonatal Palliative Care: A Guide for Nurses, Physicians, and Other Health Professionals
- Guided Participation in Pediatric Nursing Practice: Relationship-Based Teaching and Learning with Parents, Children, and Adolescents
- Perinatal and Pediatric Bereavement in Nursing and Other Health Professions
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My perspective of grief from the family’s point of view has changed. Understanding their cues will help me adapt…to better suit their needs.