Published November 21, 2024
The Greenwich Hospital Perinatal Bereavement Council hosted two perinatal bereavement skills days in October to enhance care for families experiencing perinatal loss and further educate Labor and Delivery nursing staff.
The skills day began with a council presentation on nursing care and navigating the pathways and paperwork involved. Beth Gilio, RN, presented her doctor of nursing practice project on therapeutic communication. Linda Mitchell, MD, introduced a framework for communicating with empathy and understanding and led a simulation with Gilio and palliative care social worker Hannah Amaral. Rabbi MJ Newman, Palliative Care program chaplain, discussed acknowledging and processing grief and how Spiritual Care can be integrated into bereavement support.
Nurses participated in hands-on learning stations covering memorabilia, photography, postpartum care and the paperwork that accompanies perinatal loss. The day concluded with a panel featuring bereaved parents sharing their experiences.
For more information on perinatal loss contact council co-chairs Katie Streit, RN, and Diana Polanco, RN.
