Literature Review

‘I Prayed for Him’: Faith, Mystery, and Meaning in MedicineMedscape; by Eric Spitznagel;10/15/25Harold Koenig, MD, remembers the first time he didn’t just talk about spirituality with a patient but let it shape his care... Koenig found himself doing something unusual. “I prayed for him every day and told him I was praying for him,” he said. “This meant a lot to him.” Although he had prayed for patients in the past, Koenig never admitted as much openly in a hospital setting... Doctors are starting to talk openly about that spiritual dimension of their work.

What we get wrong about death, according to end-of-life workers Yahoo Lifestyle, originally appeared on HuffPost; by Monica Torres; 10/10/25 The one big thing that people have in common is that we all will die, and we likely will experience the death of someone we love, too. ... That’s why it can help to hear the insights of people who see death all the time, because understanding it now can help us better process grief about others and feel more at ease when thinking about our own mortality. ...

Gerontological nursing essentials for BSN students: Meeting aging population needs Nevada State | RN to BSN; 10/9/25 An aging population is transforming healthcare delivery, and nurses are increasingly called to address the complex needs of older adults. For students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), learning the essentials of gerontological nursing provides the foundation to deliver compassionate, effective care. This specialty emphasizes not only clinical expertise but also communication, cultural competence, and advocacy for patient dignity. Explore what defines this field, the role of an adult gerontology nurse practitioner, and the pathways available to see how they can shape the future of elder care. Editor's Note: How is your organization supporting career growth for all staff members? While this article focuses on the RN-to-BSN pathway with a gerontological nursing emphasis, consider expanding professional development opportunities across your entire workforce—clinical and non-clinical alike. For example: 

Studying connection at life’s end: Dean’s distinguished research fellowship captures social realities of dying individuals Royal Purple - founded 1901, La Crosse, WI; by UW-La Crosse University Marketing & Communications; 10/6/25 ... The project was sparked in late 2024 when [senior Maddi Jo] Baumann approached [faculty menot Angela] Geraci with an idea rooted in personal experience and public health urgency. Inspired in part by the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the loneliness epidemic, Baumann wondered: What happens socially to people who are dying? Key findings: what drives social change at the end of life? The team’s early findings point to several factors that influence social relationships during the dying process:

Grief etiquette in the digital age: Why waiting, listening, and respecting family wishes matters more than ever National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) - Remembering a Life; by Dr. Camelia L. Clarke; 10/2/25When my nephew died unexpectedly, I was still reeling from the news when my phone began to buzz with notifications. Within an hour, his death was already circulating on social media. The world had found out before our family had even begun to process the loss, let alone notify our closest friends and relatives. I remember feeling overwhelmed, exposed, and, most of all, heartbroken—not just by the loss itself, but by how quickly and impersonally it became public knowledge. As a funeral director and grief educator for nearly thirty years, I’ve witnessed this scenario unfold countless times. 

'I spent 36 years holding dying patients' hands' BBC News, Ireland; by Grace Shaw; 10/5/25 For hospice nurse Trish Carling, holding a dying patient's hand through the dark hours of the night was a privilege to share. The 66-year-old has just retired after 36 years working in palliative care at St Michael's Hospice in Harrogate. Her first shift was in November 1989, and she has worked almost every Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve since. Despite the demands of the job, she originally chose the pathway because it worked around family life when her children were young. "At first I found the night shifts practical - they then became my preferred hours," she said. ... [Continue reading]Editor's Note: In what ways do you honor your longtime employees? How do you tell their stories of passionate compassion? Of loyalty to your core mission through changing times and operational practices? So many of these valued employees began in a pre-digital era. Imagine: before cell phones, the internet, websites, electronic employee files, EMR systems, and so much more. Crucial employee data can get lost especially during organizational name changes, Mergers & Acquistions, or a short-term leave of absence. Let this article be a catalyst for you to research and honor your employees with long tenures. Without their faithful foundations, your work today would not be the same.

Grieving someone who’s still here Psychology Today; by Bob Uslander, MD; 10/2/25 Grief does not always begin after death. For many families facing dementia, terminal illness, or a slow decline, it arrives before the final goodbye—quietly, persistently, and often without recognition. This is known as anticipatory grief: the emotional process of mourning a loved one who is still alive. As a palliative care physician, I see this every day. Spouses tell me they feel like they have already lost their partner. Adult children struggle with the reversal of roles, becoming the caregiver to the parent who once cared for them. Caregivers often oscillate between love, exhaustion, guilt, and detachment. None of this means they are doing it wrong. It means they are grieving.

Strengthening mental health literacy enhances job well-being in palliative care Oncology Nures Advisor; by Megan Garlapow, PhD; 10/1/25 Positive mental health literacy (PMeHL) significantly improved job well-being among palliative care nurses, with job crafting acting as a partial mediator in this relationship, according to a study published in BMC Psychology. These results highlight the importance of psychological resources and proactive role adjustments for supporting nurses working in high-stress palliative care settings.Editor's Note: "Job crafting" is the process by which employees actively shape and redefine their roles to enhance job satisfaction, engagement, and meaning in their work. 

Instilling hope: A comprehensive model of cancer care for younger adults Targeted Oncology; by Andrea Eleazar, MHS and Shane Dormady, MD, PhD; 9/29/25 In the past decade, the incidence of numerous cancer types has increased, particularly among younger adults under age 50. For younger adults, many of whom are primary breadwinners of their households or in the height of their educational or professional careers, a cancer diagnosis at this life stage can be unexpected and jarring. ... In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Shane Dormady, MD, PhD, medical director of El Camino Health Cancer Center, describes the unique needs and challenges of younger adults, outlines El Camino Health’s comprehensive care strategy, and offers insights and considerations for treating and interacting with this patient population.

A decade of interactive educational exchange: Impacting interprofessional palliative care educationJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Laura J Morrison, Shirley Otis-Green, Julie Bruno, Pamela N Fordham, Elise C Carey; 9/25The interprofessional clinical practice model is arguably the most impactful and generative aspect of hospice and palliative care (HPC) clinical practice. This article describes the innovative shared interprofessional leadership model, andragogical infrastructure, program development, educational impact, and critical lessons from the Interactive Educational Exchange (IEE). In response to a deficit in interprofessional HPC educational opportunities for rapid scholarship dissemination and mentorship, interprofessional leaders from medicine, social work and nursing proposed and implemented the IEE at the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care presented by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association from 2010-2020. The reported outcome measures for interprofessional scholarship and engagement, session evaluations, and attendance demonstrate why this successful innovation was repeated annually for over a decade pre-COVID. 

What makes a good death? GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Care Podcast for Every Healthcare Professional; by Alex Smith with Karen Steinhauser, Rasa Mikelyte and Edison Vidal; 9/18/25What is a “good death”? How should we define it, and who gets to decide? Is the concept of a “good death” even useful? ... In today’s podcast, we are honored to have Karen join us to discuss this pivotal study and the nature of a “good death”. We are also joined by Rasa Mikelyte and Edison Vidal, co-authors of a recent study comparing the perspectives of people with dementia in the UK and Brazil on what constitutes a good death. In addition to exploring the nature of a good death and their individual studies, we will discuss:

An artisan gifts her time and talents to hospice Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN; by Alison Eckert; 9/14/25 ... At [her hospice volunteer] orientation, Barbara Wyatt decided to share one of her favorite pastimes. "I do stained glass as a hobby," she said. ... She brought four of her stained-glass angels to give to members of the hospice team. They eagerly accepted the gifts and her offer to make similar keepsakes for hospice patients and their loved ones. From that point on, Barbara would have no trouble finding new homes for her handcrafted guardians. ... Barbara believes that although not everyone is religious, many people are spiritual. In her experience, angels serve as a universal symbol of guidance and peace. ... Since starting her volunteer role in 2024, Barbara has created more than 250 stained glass angels to share with patients and their loved ones. 

Reducing family caregiver burden may prevent 30-day ED readmissions among community-dwelling older adults, study finds McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Foster Stubbs; 9/9/25 Alleviating caregiver burden may reduce returns to the emergency department for older adults up to 30 days after a discharge, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study examined 1409 dyads or duos of community-dwelling patients 65 years or older and their family caregivers. ... [Questions] included items about strain in the caregiver’s role and personal life associated with caregiving. ... "We interpret these findings as evidence that caregiver burden may contribute to a negative care transition, associated with 30-day ED revisits, ..."