CNA Grief Support: An Educational Website for Certified Nurse Assistants & Skilled Nursing Facility Administrators

There is a dearth of research about Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and the grief they may experience in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) when a resident dies. Doka's (2002) model of disenfranchised grief states that grievers have more difficulties coping and higher levels of complicated grief when society does not acknowledge their grief. Disenfranchised grief is the basis for this project. CNAs may be at risk for disenfranchised grief due to a lack of awareness and acknowledgement of SNF administrators. A website named cnagriefsupport.com was created to raise awareness of the potential problem and encourage SNF administrators to acknowledge the grief of these front-line care givers. The website covers topics of death & dying; grief; bereavement; self-care; professional resources; disenfranchised grief; and resources for in-house training and mourning rituals.