Literature Review

Nursing students gain valuable insights into global palliative care and cultural perspectives UConn Today, University of Connecticut; by Grace Fontanarosa; 3/11/25 School of Nursing assistant clinical professor Amisha Parekh de Campos, Ph.D., MPH, RN, CHPN, along with senior nursing students Gillian Fulton ’25 (NUR) and Abigail Schwartz ’25 (NUR) recently returned from the End-of-Life Experiential Global Learning (EGL) spring program in Belgium. ... In such an intensive program, there is much to process. Parekh de Campos and her students regularly debriefed to address questions and embrace openness to other cultural beliefs and perspectives. “Going in, we were very focused on the medical aspect of palliative care, and this program shifted our focus to the psychosocial aspects of end of life,” say Fulton and Schwartz. 

Here’s to Laura Ptucha-Skoog, hospice nurse YubaNet.com; by Timothy May; 3/10/25 “I’m not sure I’d say much at all, not at first. I would just try to listen.” This in response to the question of how a hospice nurse should respond if patients or family members make demands that seem unreasonable, unwise, or downright impossible. ... Laura Ptucha-Skoog should know; she has been an R.N. for decades and a nurse at Hospice of the Foothills for the last nine years. She loves her job, including the challenge of facilitating communication. Her ability to talk frankly with terminally ill hospital patients and families drew her to a career in hospice. “Often,” Laura explains, “the human elements are as challenging as the medical ones. Things like asking the right questions and listening to responses; making sure your patient and their caregivers understand what you are doing and why; verifying that everyone understands where you are in the process; listening to their responses with patience and empathy.” ... 

Helios Care honors hospice social workers Allotsego,Oneonta NY; by Dan Ayres, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helios Care; 3/6/25March is National Social Work Month, a time to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of social workers across the country. The theme for National Social Work Month this year is “Compassion and Action,” which 100 percent sums up our team of social workers at Helios Care, the hospice for Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties. All social workers are indeed special, but hospice social work is very unique. ... Hospice social workers at Helios Care are trained to provide a holistic approach to end-of-life care, helping patients and their families navigate emotional, psychological, and practical challenges. Community education, bereavement counseling, bearing witness to those at end of life, practical assistance in the home and advanced care planning are just some of the duties of a hospice social worker. Thank a social worker this month—their work is truly remarkable.

The twofold challenge of an older population — and how systems are adapting Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch and Kristin Kuchno; 2/21/25 In less than a decade, older Americans are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history, sparking conversations about the need for age-friendly healthcare.  At the same time, declining birth rates and longer life expectancies — half of babies born in 2020 are expected to live past 100 years — pose potential workforce challenges. Becker's connected with four health system leaders to explore the challenges this demographic shift presents and how they are preparing to address it. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Central Coast VNA & Hospice expands registered nursing services in Monterey Buzz; 3/5/25 Central Coast VNA & Hospice is significantly expanding its registered nursing care services in Monterey, providing residents with increased access to high-quality, personalized healthcare delivered directly in their homes. … Key expanded services include advanced care planning, which helps patients and families make informed medical decisions, and a palliative care program focused on relieving symptoms and reducing stress for patients with serious illnesses. The organization also offers specialty programs targeting specific health conditions such as cardiac care, diabetic care, and orthopedic support. 

Nurse leaders can take the lead in promoting civility in the workplace Oncology Nurse Advisor; by Susan Rux, PhD, DNP, RN, FACHE; 2/28/25 Civility, the act of respecting others, especially in situations where disagreement or disparity may arise, occurs by intentionally displaying kindness and empathy. These behaviors help people to understand differences as well as uphold common ground across all social contexts. A stable foundation, afforded through civil actions, serves as a catalyst in achieving environments that promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity — the underpinnings of a culture of belonging. Nurse leaders can play a key role in creating this culture. Contrary to civility, in the healthcare setting, acts of incivility lead to increased levels of staff disengagement and turnover. Researchers have noted that a civil nursing workplace provides a safeguard against numerous professional issues, including but not limited to increased turnover rates, burnout, job dissatisfaction, and stress.

The project: This is hospice care PA Mediapoint, United Kingdom; 3/1/25 Hospice UK approached us to support the launch of their national “This is Hospice Care” campaign. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about hospice care and encourage people to leave a gift in their will to their local hospice. ... To further strengthen the campaign’s storytelling, we encouraged hospice nurses to bring objects representing the diverse services offered by hospices. Some of props included a pug to represent pet therapy, a potted plant symbolising hospice gardens and outdoor spaces, a birthday cake reflecting the sense of community and celebration within hospices, and a gift box to emphasise the theme of leaving a legacy. Bringing together nurses from twelve hospices, the shoot successfully blended visual storytelling with the core campaign messages. The imagery not only highlighted the importance of hospice care but also created compelling content for national and regional media.Editor's note: This creative initiative can be adapted easily for hospice teams (clinical and non-clinical), volunteers, and more. Click on the title's link to read more about this project's meaningful design, implementation, and outcoms.

[UK] 'Rising costs mean difficult decisions' - hospices BBC News, Somerset, UK; by Bea Swallow; 3/1/25 Hospice charities have warned "difficult decisions" could be on the horizon unless changes are made to "restrictive" government funding. On Wednesday, the government announced the release of £25 million for hospices across England, but this is reserved for facility upgrades and refurbishments only. ... Facing a "significant rise" in demand and costs, hospices across the country have been rallying for a more sustainable, long-term funding solution for the sector. ... Penny Agent, chief operating officer for Dorothy House, said unless it received support with staffing costs, it would have no choice but to cut back on services. 

Suspect armed with rifle shoots at hospice nurse, points weapon at deputies The Orange Leader, Orange County, CA; by Staff Reports; 2/28/25 A person was taken into custody after allegedly shooting at a fleeing hospice nurse and pointing a rifle at law enforcement Thursday. Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 5600 block of Rebel Road after a hospice nurse reported to 911 that while attempting to provide care to one of her patients she was confronted by an occupant of the home. The occupant followed the nurse out of the home with a rifle, and shot at her as she fled the property.  A single bullet struck the nurse’s vehicle, according to information from OCSO. Upon arrival, Orange County Deputies established communication with the suspect who remained inside the residence with the rifle.  The suspect reportedly pointed the rifle toward the deputies while he remained in close proximity to the hospice patient.  

Forget perks—leadership starts with asking employees what they need Forbes; by Benjamin Laker; 2/25/25 Employee well-being isn’t just a perk—it’s a business imperative. As organizations struggle with high turnover, burnout, and shifting workforce expectations, leaders must rethink how they engage and support employees. Research consistently shows that investing in well-being leads to measurable gains in productivity, retention, and performance. A recent study published by BMJ Leader examined how a structured, data-driven approach to improving workplace culture can yield transformative results—using the well-being initiative at Royal Free Hospital as a case study. ... The program, which was the focus of the BMJ Leader study, incorporated systematic conversations based on the Joy in Work Framework, identifying key challenges and implementing targeted solutions. Following implementation, workplace satisfaction surged by 76%, highlighting the significant impact of addressing staff concerns directly. Employees became more engaged in organizational initiatives, fostering a culture of active participation rather than passive compliance. 

CIO hiring on the rise: How to land a top tech exec role in 2025 CIO; by David Weldon; 2/25/25 Job opportunities are picking up for CIOs and other IT leaders in 2025, but so are expectations, with AI, change acceleration, and business transformation at the top of most companies’ wish lists. Early returns on 2025 hiring for IT leaders suggest a robust market. For some recruitment firms, job growth for tech executive positions is at great heights.

Why being trustworthy is a leadership hack that drives success Inc.; by Yufie Ren; 2/20/25 Leaders who cultivate trust can significantly reduce employee churn and improve organizational performance. ... In an era of rapid change, when teams look to leaders for stability and direction, trust is the invisible currency that fuels organizational success. ... Fortunately for managers – and workers – there’s a lot of research into how to be a more trustworthy leader. Here are a few insights:

Empowering employees to drive CX [Customer eXperience] innovation: A comprehensive path to successCustomerland; by Ricardo Saltz Gulko; 2/24/25 ... While it is widely recognized that employees play a crucial role in shaping customer experience (CX), their impact on innovation is often less clear. However, employees are the bedrock of innovation within any organization. They bring diverse perspectives, skills, and creativity that fuel the development of new products, services, and processes. This article delves into the significant ways employees influence innovation, providing a comprehensive analysis supported by ten key points. ...