Graduation Date

Summer 8-7-2026

Submission Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

School

School of Nursing

Faculty Mentor

Mary Loughran

Keywords

bereavement care, program evaluation, patient experience, interdisciplinary care, acute care hospital

Abstract

Bereavement care is a significant component of patient and family centered care; however, it remains inconsistently addressed in acute adult hospital settings. Families of patients who die in hospitals frequently experience grief, anxiety, and emotional distress, which may be exacerbated by fragmented or inadequate bereavement support (Kustanti et al., 2021). Evidence supports the use of structured, interdisciplinary approaches to bereavement care to ensure timely, consistent, and compassionate support for families. To address this gap, a Bereavement Committee was established at a Level I trauma center in eastern Pennsylvania to implement a standardized Bereavement Care Program aimed at improving bereavement practices and staff support across the hospital.

This formative program evaluation assessed the early implementation and perceived impact of the Bereavement Care Program and identifies strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. The evaluation used a formative, mixed-methods evaluation approach guided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Framework (2004). Quantitative data was collected through author-developed electronic Family Satisfaction and Staff Bereavement Evaluation Surveys administered via Qualtrics to assess program outreach, satisfaction with bereavement resources, and staff confidence in delivering grief support. Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with bereaved family members, focus groups with interdisciplinary staff, and open-ended survey responses to further explore experiences with program implementation and utilization.

Results demonstrated successful early implementation and value among staff and families. Family respondents rated communication clarity highly and reported that resources supported coping with loss. They also identified opportunities to improve follow-up support and access to resources. Staff reported increased confidence in providing bereavement care and valued standardized resources, including bereavement packets, condolence cards, and bereavement trays. Qualitative findings highlighted compassionate communication, interdisciplinary collaboration and standardized resources as program strengths, while emphasizing the need for ongoing education.

Overall, this evaluation provided actionable feedback to strengthen the program and promote sustainable, compassionate bereavement care. These findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting standardized, interdisciplinary approaches to bereavement care and highlight the importance of integrating bereavement practices into policy and organizational culture (Harrop et al., 2020).

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