In Memory of Grace: The Spiritual & Religious Tale of a Patient, Her Sister, a Mentor and Her Student
Barbara Cohen, PhD, JD, RN, The College of New Rochelle
Donna Nickitas, PhD, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, The City University of New York
Moderator: Julie Vosit-Steller, DNP, FNP-BC, OCN, Simmons College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Grace Shanahan, of blessed memory, spent the better part of a year, living with and dying of cancer. Her sister, a professor of nursing and chief nursing officer of a nursing doctoral program, spent that year caring for Grace and other family members who suffered in the face of loss. The nursing professor experienced significant grief at the loss of her eldest sister, yet remained the comforter of others, a familiar role. The professor helped her sister and family members through the religious rites and spiritual paths along the journey to the next world, all the while, dealing with the wrenching loss of her eldest sister, as best she could, by and large on her own.
Grace’s traditional, elegant Catholic wake and funeral were very well attended. The nursing professor remained in the role of “hosting” the guests, comforting them. The professor’s student and mentee, an actively practicing Jewish woman, attended the wake and sat for several hours, watching the professor whom she knew and loved so well. The suffering was obvious as the only strategy was to “host the guest while coping with grief.” The student sat and thought about the majesty and depth of Catholic mourning rites and the time bound rituals of Jewish mourning. She offered comfort using a Jewish ritual framework for shiva or mourning of extended presence and physical caretaking. The physical manifested when the student suggested: “I’ll come to your office every day next week and, bring you lunch and we will work on whatever projects you need to complete.” And, the professor accepted. That week, working in partnership and breaking bread every day generated an examination by the professor and her student of the roles of professional caregivers in end of life situations and, of how differing religious and spiritual practices can be meshed to provide solace to the bereaved.
This panel will lead a discussion of the spiritual and religious needs of healthcare professionals as caregivers and family members in the face of terminal illness and loss. Opportunities for interfaith understanding as an extension of caring to enhance resolution of grief for caregivers and healthcare providers will be examined. The development of more open spiritual vistas leading to the acceptance of help in times of grief on the part of healthcare professionals will be highlighted. It is essential that healthcare professional regardless of religious, spiritual and cultural beliefs be receptive to personal healing through effective coping and grieving strategies. Only then, can the “healer be truly available to heal others” in their own personal loss and grief.
Donna Nickitas, PhD, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, The City University of New York
Moderator: Julie Vosit-Steller, DNP, FNP-BC, OCN, Simmons College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Grace Shanahan, of blessed memory, spent the better part of a year, living with and dying of cancer. Her sister, a professor of nursing and chief nursing officer of a nursing doctoral program, spent that year caring for Grace and other family members who suffered in the face of loss. The nursing professor experienced significant grief at the loss of her eldest sister, yet remained the comforter of others, a familiar role. The professor helped her sister and family members through the religious rites and spiritual paths along the journey to the next world, all the while, dealing with the wrenching loss of her eldest sister, as best she could, by and large on her own.
Grace’s traditional, elegant Catholic wake and funeral were very well attended. The nursing professor remained in the role of “hosting” the guests, comforting them. The professor’s student and mentee, an actively practicing Jewish woman, attended the wake and sat for several hours, watching the professor whom she knew and loved so well. The suffering was obvious as the only strategy was to “host the guest while coping with grief.” The student sat and thought about the majesty and depth of Catholic mourning rites and the time bound rituals of Jewish mourning. She offered comfort using a Jewish ritual framework for shiva or mourning of extended presence and physical caretaking. The physical manifested when the student suggested: “I’ll come to your office every day next week and, bring you lunch and we will work on whatever projects you need to complete.” And, the professor accepted. That week, working in partnership and breaking bread every day generated an examination by the professor and her student of the roles of professional caregivers in end of life situations and, of how differing religious and spiritual practices can be meshed to provide solace to the bereaved.
This panel will lead a discussion of the spiritual and religious needs of healthcare professionals as caregivers and family members in the face of terminal illness and loss. Opportunities for interfaith understanding as an extension of caring to enhance resolution of grief for caregivers and healthcare providers will be examined. The development of more open spiritual vistas leading to the acceptance of help in times of grief on the part of healthcare professionals will be highlighted. It is essential that healthcare professional regardless of religious, spiritual and cultural beliefs be receptive to personal healing through effective coping and grieving strategies. Only then, can the “healer be truly available to heal others” in their own personal loss and grief.