In honour of Nursing Week, PSW Day, and National Hospice Palliative Care Week, this special podcast brought national leaders together to recognize the emotional labour carried by those who care for others. Palliative Care Everywhere: Caring for the Grief of Those Who Care explored the often‑unseen grief experienced by nurses, PSWs, and palliative care professionals, and highlighted why grief literacy is essential for healthy, compassionate workplaces.
Featuring Dr. Mary Ellen Macdonald, anthropologist and grief literacy scholar, and Dr. Susan Cadell, social work researcher and adjunct professor in the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, both co‑founders of Grief Matters.
The conversation examined cumulative loss, relational grief, and the public health importance of supporting caregivers. Together, they offered practical, team‑based approaches to building compassionate communities within health‑care settings.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
1. Recognize the unique nature of grief experienced by nurses, PSWs, and palliative care professionals. Understand cumulative loss, relational grief, and the emotional labour embedded in caregiving roles.
2. Explain grief literacy as a public health issue. Identify how grief literacy reduces stigma, strengthens teams, and supports healthier workplaces.
3. Identify ways to build compassionate communities within health‑care settings. Explore collective care practices, rituals, and team‑based approaches to supporting grief.
