Date of Conferral
11-20-2025
Date of Award
November 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Social Work
Advisor
Curtis Davis
Abstract
Burnout is common among hospice clinical social workers due to the emotionally demanding nature of the profession and heavy caseloads. This study explored how hospice clinical social workers perceive the role of empowerment and self-care practices in reducing burnout. The qualitative design used semi-structured interviews with ten hospice clinical social workers. Thematic analysis identified five categories: indicators of burnout, team-based/relational support, systemic and workload pressures, organizational culture, and values and professional identity. The themes that emerged from the five categories were emotional, physical, and professional; interdisciplinary support and supervisory support; workload and organizational demands; organizational challenges and policy limitations; workplace culture and values in hospice work; and resilience and professional growth. The findings suggest that empowerment practices and consistent self-care support reduce burnout and strengthen workers' ability to provide quality care. Hospice organizations can use these insights to enhance workplace conditions and foster positive social change by prioritizing the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of clinical social workers.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Chasity, "Hospice Clinical Social Workers’ Perceptions on Reducing Burnout Through Empowerment and Self-Care Practices" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18786.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18786
