Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In the field of palliative care, self-care has been socially constructed to refer to a series of disconnected activities that are a response to stress that has been ineffective in preventing or ameliorating stress and burnout. This study was designed to reveal the use of the term self-care as presented in the text Caregiver Stress and Staff Support in Illness, Dying, and Bereavement (Renzenbrink, 2011), using a method based on grounded theory, discourse analysis. By examining the term self-care in the context of this written text, we see that self-care has evolved to mean a proactive and responsive way of being that is embedded in the values, responsibilities, and resources of the organization and the people within the organization. This leads to heightened internal consciousness which spurs actions that create balance and a way of being that cares for the self/Self. When there is balance, self-care is generated and valued, and so it continues in a reflexive loop. A model is presented that can serve to assist organizations in embedding self-care into the system.

Keywords

burnout discourse analysis grounded theory internal consciousness palliative care relentless self-care self-care stress self-awareness self-knowledge self-reflection

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Arshinoff

(2011). When answers elude us: Spiritual care as a tool for healing. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 178–188). New York: Oxford University Press.

Bertman

(2011). Foreword. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 178–188). New York: Oxford University Press.

Chia

(2000). Discourse analysis organizational analysis. Organization, 7 (3), 513–518.

Chow

A. Y. M.

(2011). Prevention of burnout and compassion fatigue through education and training: The project ENABLE. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver Stress and Staff Support in Illness, Dying, and Bereavement (pp. 98–110). New York: Oxford University Press.

Denyes

Orem

& Bekel

(2001). Self-care: A foundational science. Nursing Science Quarterly, 14(1), 48–54. doi: 10.1177/089431840101400113

Deschamps

(2011). Leadership and staff care, self-care and self-awareness: Reflections from St. Christopher's House, London. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 127–137). New York: Oxford University Press.

Egan

(2002). Grounded theory research and theory building. Advances in developing human resources 4(3), 277–295. doi: 10.1177/1523422302043004

Jones

S. H.

(2005). A self-care plan for hospice workers. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 22 (2), 125–128.

Kearney

Weininger

Vachon

Harrison

& Mount

(2009). Self-care of physicians caring for patients at the end of life: “Being connected… a key to my survival.” Journal of the American Medical Association, 301 (11), 1155–1164.

10.

Larkin

(2011). Compassion: The essence of end-of-life care. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 154–169). New York: Oxford University Press.

11.

Maasdorp

(2011). The challenge of staff support in hospice care in Zimbabwe. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 82–97). New York: Oxford University Press.

12.

Mak

(2011). Working and living with cancer, death, and dying: A personal reflection. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 62–72). New York: Oxford University Press.

13.

Nugus

(2011). Seeing beyond the sadness: Hope, resilience sustainable practice in childhood bereavement. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 138–153). New York: Oxford University Press.

14.

Papadatou

(2009). In the face of death: Professionals who care for the dying and the bereaved. New York: Springer.

15.

Renzenbrink

(2006). Relentless self care: Staying alive in the work. Journal of Palliative Care, 22 (3), 207–208.

16.

Renzenbrink

(Ed.). (2011). Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement. New York: Oxford University Press.

17.

Strauss

& Corbin

(1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

18.

Thompson

(2011). Workplace well-being: A psychosocial perspective. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 25–36). New York: Oxford University Press.

19.

Traynor

(2004). Discourse analysis. Nurse Researcher, 12 (2), 4–6.

20.

Wainwright

& Breiddal

(2011). Staff support: A shared responsibility. In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 111–119). New York: Oxford University Press.

21.

Weininger

& Kearney

(2011). Revisiting empathic engagement: Countering compassion fatigue with ‘exquisite empathy.’ In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 49–61). New York: Oxford University Press.

22.

Youngson

(2011). Compassion in healthcare—The missing dimension of healthcare reform? In Renzenbrink

(Ed.), Caregiver stress and staff support in illness, dying, and bereavement (pp. 37–48). New York: Oxford University Press.

Self-Care in Palliative Care: A Way of Being

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References