Oncology nurses deal with multiple deaths, providing care for patients, as well as families/caregivers. After a patient death a nurse is expected to continue working. Ineffective coping mechanisms may be adopted leading to burnout and harmful behaviors. Assisting nurses in dealing with death and processing of grief guards against burnout, leading to better patient care. Interventions include attending funerals, holding alternative rituals, calling families, posting photographs and/or sending cards. On our BMT unit, nurses deal with both adult and pediatric deaths. In the past, a structured bereavement program had been valued and several nurses participated in sending sympathy cards initially, at 6 months and at one year. With the turn over of involved staff the project dissolved. An original member, an RN with 23 years of oncology experience returned to the BMT unit after a 2-year absence and noticed that staff were struggling with grief issues. A proposal for reinitiating the cards was brought to the unit Nurse Practice committee and unanimously accepted. The Unit CNS gave a presentation on Nurses Grief, expanding nurses' knowledge about the concept and described bereavement programs as one effective intervention. Bereavement cards, including pediatric specific were purchased. The lead nurse initiated the sympathy card and notified staff, enabling all to personally sign their names and express condolences. With the past program one nurse was responsible for cards each month, while currently the project leader asks nurses closest to the family to choose and initiate a card. In the past patients were missed if they didn't expire on the BMT unit, therefore a data manager provides the RN with a monthly patient expiration list. Patient photographs and cards are posted in the nurses' conference room and then placed in a unit scrapbook. Previous participants voice gratitude for re-initiation of the program, while nurses new to the experience provide positive feedback. Bereaved families convey verbal and written appreciation for the thoughtful gesture. Bereavement programs allow oncology nurses ways to express and resolve their grief and can be tailored to meet individual staff/unit needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]