Some Personal Reflections on the History and Current Status of Textbooks in the Field of Death, Dying, and Bereavement.

This article is a contribution to recording one dimension of the history of education in the field of death, dying, and bereavement. It offers some personal reflections on the history and current status of textbooks in our field that have been or are currently published in North America. The scope of this reflection looks back on the earliest textbooks in this field published in the 1960s and 1970s and extends to textbooks published in the early 2020s.

Some Reflections On The History And Current Status of Education in the Field of Death, Dying, and Bereavement at the College and University Level In North America.

This article is a contribution to recording one dimension of the field of death, dying, and bereavement. It offers some personal reflections on the history and current status of formal education in this field at the college and university level in North America. The scope of this reflection looks back on the earliest known examples of formal education in this field that took place in the 1960s and 1970s, provides examples of some of the early pedagogical resources that were created to support and foster those initiatives, and sketches more recent developments as regards introductory or undergraduate survey courses in this field, other death-related courses, programs in thanatology, and efforts to offer certificates or certification for educators and other professionals in this field.

Some Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of Hospice Care in America.

This article celebrates the 50 anniversary of hospice care in America. It also offers a brief recounting of one person's reflections on some aspects of the history, achievements, and current status of American hospice care.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and the 5 Stages Model in a Sampling of Recent North American Nursing Textbooks.

Nursing education programs and nursing textbooks often present accounts of the work of Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her "5 stages" model. In this article, we examine a sampling of recent North American nursing textbooks to illustrate the different ways those subjects are discussed. Unfortunately, the information provided is not always accurate or helpful in guiding readers.

Should We Incorporate the Work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in Our Current Teaching and Practice and, If So, How?

This article acknowledges the historical importance of the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her five stages model. Because her name and this model appear in many textbooks, professional educational programs, and popular culture, should we incorporate these subjects in responsible ways in our current teaching and practice? The answer proposed here is that we should incorporate these subjects, but only if (a) we focus on her recommendations on behalf of active listening and learning from persons diagnosed with a terminal illness, (b) we limit ourselves to her descriptions of the individual reactions and responses experienced by her interviewees, (c) we acknowledge criticisms of the five stages model as a framework for understanding coping with life-threatening illness and dying, (d) we draw instead on alternative theories of coping with dying, and (e) we recognize dangers in applying this model to issues involving loss, grief, and bereavement and do not do so.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and the "Five Stages" Model in a Sampling of Recent Textbooks Published in 10 Countries Outside the United States.

A previous article in this journal examined some aspects of the enduring influence of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's "five stages" model through a sampling of recent American textbooks in selected academic disciplines and professional fields. This article offers a parallel sampling of 47 textbooks published in 10 different countries outside the United States. The questions to be answered are as follows: Does the "five stages" model appear without significant change in the textbooks described here?Is the "five stages" model applied in these textbooks to issues involving loss, grief, and bereavement as well as to those involving terminal illness and dying?Is the "five stages" model criticized in some or all of these textbooks?If so, is the criticism sufficient to argue that, while the "five stages" model might be presented as an important historical framework, it should no longer be regarded as a sound theory to guide contemporary education and practice?

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and the "Five Stages" Model in a Sampling of Recent American Textbooks.

This article examines some aspects of the enduring influence of the work of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and especially of her "five stages" model through a sampling of recent textbooks published in the United States in selected academic disciplines and professional fields. The following are the questions to be asked:1.

Death Cafe.

This article explains the meaning of the phrase Death Cafe and describes what typically occurs at a Death Cafe gathering. The article traces the history of the Death Cafe movement, explores some reasons why people take part in a Death Cafe gathering, and gives examples of what individuals think they might derive from their participation. In addition, this article notes similarities between the Death Cafe movement and three other developments in the field of death, dying, and bereavement.

Hannelore Wass: Professional Influences and Legacies.

This article offers a reflection on the professional influence of Dr. Hannelore Wass on the author's introduction to and work in the field of death, dying, and bereavement. At the same time, it also offers comments on her broader influence on and legacies left to others who work in this field.

The death system according to Robert Kastenbaum.

This article focuses on Robert Kastenbaum's seminal concept of the societal death system. Beginning with conflicting claims that America is a death-denying society versus a death-accepting society, the article reports Kastenbaum's definition and description of the death system in American society and sets forth the seven functions and five elements or components of that death system. Next, the article notes Kastenbaum's further claim that "All cultures, past and present, have had death systems.

Donor families, distinctive secondary losses, and "second death" experiences.

Communication between donor families and the recipients of their loved ones' organs and tissues is a relatively new area of study. The National Kidney Foundation founded the National Donor Family Council in 1992 as a home for donor families. One of several items addressed by the Council was guidelines for communication, supporting the rights of donor families and recipients to communicate and build relationships should they choose to do so.

Understanding bereavement, grief, and mourning: implications for donation and transplant professionals.

This article surveys recent literature on bereavement, grief, and mourning. It offers a review of the state of the art of current understandings of those topics to assist professionals who work in the field of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The article's goal is to provide well-developed and up-to-date education and knowledge about bereavement, grief, and mourning to supplement the natural skills and experience of donation and transplant professionals in their work with bereaved persons.

Siblings and child friends in death-related literature for children.

This article explores ways in which siblings and child friends are represented as being involved in death and loss experiences. These representations are taken from 51 selected examples of death-related literature designed to be read by or with children. The main goal is to ask how these youngsters respond when confronted by the death of a sibling or child friend.

Parents in death-related literature for children.

This article explores ways in which parents are represented as being involved with children in death and loss experiences. These representations are taken from 46 selected examples of death-related literature designed to be read by or with children. The main goal for us is to ask how parents are portrayed in these books and how their interactions with children are depicted.

Caregivers in death, dying, and bereavement situations.

This document examines issues related to the work of both formal and informal caregivers as they are involved in caring for dying and/or bereaved individuals. The examination is organized around five central questions: what brings individuals to this work?; what enables them to develop effective caregiving relationships?; what sustains them in their work?; what responsibilities do they have to themselves and to others?; and how are they are influenced by the social context of their work? The goal of this article is to help individuals and teams improve the care they provide in death-related situations, while also assisting educators, managers, and administrators to prepare and support these caregivers in more effective ways.

Teaching a college course on children and death for 22 years: a supplemental report.

This article supplements an earlier account of experiences involved in teaching what is believed to be the first full-term, credit-bearing, college-level course on Children and Death (C. A. Corr, 1992).