"Death-telling" research project.

An unexpected death is a traumatic event for everyone affected by it, especially family members. The manner in which a family is told that a death has occurred has a profound effect on their grief and bereavement process. The task of the health care professional working with these patients and their families is to assist their healing by being skilled in the "death-telling" process. This article focuses on the project that developed a teaching tool and videotape used to educate individuals about the proper way to inform families of the death of a loved one.