EDUCATION
Lancaster University
Palliative Research Ph.D. , 2021
International Observatory on End-of-Life Care
Lancashire, UK
Azusa Pacific University
Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Master of Science in Nursing, 2009
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 1994
CERTIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EDUCATION
Harvard Medical School Palliative Care Education and Clinical Practice Course, 2010 Advanced Practice Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, 2010
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Approved Educator, 2010
Family Nurse Practitioner, 2009
California Public Health Certification, 2009
End of Life Nursing Education Consortium, Critical Care, 2007
End of Life Nursing Education Consortium, Core 2006
End of Life Nursing Education Consortium, Pediatrics, 2006
City of Hope Pain Resource Nurse Training Course, 2002, 2004, 2010 (240 hours)
Pacific AIDS Center/U.S.C. HIV/AIDS Clinician Program, 1996
Certified Public Health Nurse- State of California 1994-2012
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS
Feb 2013-June 2019
Yale School of Medicine Program for Bioethics
Affiliated Faculty
April 2012-June 2019
Yale School of Medicine Faculty Interdisciplinary End of Life Program
Palliative and End of Life Care Education
Faculty
Oct. 2012-June 2019 Yale School of Nursing
Clinical Instructor,
Geriatric/Palliative, Nurse Practitioner Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Preceptor
Jan. 2009 – Feb. 2012
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA
Adjunct Faculty –Bio-ethics,
▪ Provided graduate-level nursing Bioethical didactic content. ▪ Provided instruction in the field of community health to senior baccalaureate students for the traditional nursing program.
▪ Provided instruction in the fields of community health, and leadership to senior students in the Traditional Baccalaureate Nursing Program.
▪ Taught didactic Community Health to Accelerated Second Degree students.
▪ Taught didactic Community Health to Undergraduate students
▪ Provided Community Health didactic content to RN to BSN nursing students.
Adjunct Faculty (Clinical Instructor and Lecturer) – Community Health
Aug. 2006 – May 2008
Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA
Clinical Instructor and Lecturer – Community Health and Leadership
Sept. 2007 – Dec 2007
California State University, Los Angeles, CA
Adjunct Faculty
PUBLICATIONS
Gagne-Henderson, R., Holland, C., & Walshe, C. (2023). Sense of Coherence at End of Life in Older People: An Interpretive Description. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 10-1097.
Gagne-Henderson R. The Nine Rules to Conquer Death. J Palliat Med. 2023 Mar; 26(3):452-453
Gagne-Henderson, R. (2022). Learning How Older People Form Sense of Coherence through an Interpretation of Their Experiences of Decline and Serious Illness During a 30-Day Readmission: An Interpretive Description (Doctoral dissertation, Lancaster University).
Gagne Henderson, R. (2018) Book Review: My Father’s Wake: How the Irish teach us to live, love and die by Kevin Toolis. Retrieved from https://www.pallimed.org/2018/08/book- review-my-fathers-wake-how-irish_31.html
Henderson, R.G. et al (2017). Using the Rothman Index and length of stay as a trigger for palliative care in the medical intensive care unit and step-down units. The Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing 19(3) 232-237. Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Health, Healing and Shalom: Frontiers and Challenges for Christian Health Missions (2015) Myers, B.L., Dufault-Hunter, E., Voss, I.B (eds) Chapter 10: Seeking Shalom at the End-of-Life: Cooperating with God’s Magnificent Design. William Carey Library, Pasadena, California, USA
BLOGS
Gagne-Henderson, R. (June 6, 2023) Getting the Boot, The Palliative Provocateur, Getting the Boot! – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Mar 19, 2023) The Story of Louie and Tony, The Palliative Provocateur, The Story of Louie and Tony: an unexpected miracle – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Dec 21, 2023) The Great Divide: The Schism Between Palliative Medicine and Palliative Care, The Palliative Provocateur, The Great Divide: The Schism Between Palliative Medicine and Palliative Care – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Dec 12, 2022) The Death Rattle: A Natural Sign of Impending Death, The Palliative Provocateur, The Death Rattle: A natural sign of impending death – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Sept 20, 2022) Wine Skins in the Smoke and Resilience, The Palliative Provocateur, Wineskins in the Smoke and Resilience – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Aug 30, 2022) There is No Place Like Home to Die, The Palliative Provocateur, There is No Place Like Home…to die. – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Jul 13, 2022) The Folly of Unforeseen Consequences: Let’s Talk About Telehealth, Palliative Provocateur, The Folly of Unforeseen Consequences: Let’s Talk About Telehealth – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Jun 23, 2022) The Spiritual Aspects of the Physiology of Death, The Palliative Provocateur, The Spiritual Aspects of the Physiology of Death – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Jun 9, 2023) Starvation, Dehydration and the Physiology of Death: What you need to know, The Palliative Provocateur, Starvation, Dehydration & the Physiology of Death – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Apr 26, 2023) Overtreatment, the River Styx, and End-of-Life Conversations, The Palliative Provocateur, Overtreatment, the River Styx and End-of-Life Conversations – The Palliative Provocateur Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Apr 13, 2023) A Story of Grace, Redemption and Remoralization, The Palliative Provocateur, A Story of Grace, Redemption and Remoralization – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Apr 13, 2022) The Ethics of Assisted Death Part II, The Palliative Provocateur, Ethics of Assisted Death: Part II – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne-Henderson, R. (Mar 29, 2022) The Ethics of Assisted Death Part I, The Palliative Provocateur, Ethics of Assisted Death: Part I – The Palliative Provocateur
Gagne Henderson, R. (Aug 31, 2018) Book Review: My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love, and Die by Keven Toolis, Pallimed, Book Review: My Father’s Wake: How the Irish teach us to live, love and die by Kevin Toolis ~ Pallimed
Gagne Henderson, R. (Aug 1, 2016) Palliative Chemotherapy: An Oxymoron, Pallimed, Palliative Chemotherapy: An Oxymoron ~ Pallimed
FREELANCE JOURNALISM
Gagne-Henderson, Rebecca (Mar 17, 2023) How to Make Meaning When They Say, “You are Dying”. HealthNews, https://healthnews.com/family-health/end-of-life-care/making-meaning-of-life-when-they-say-you-are-dying/
AWARDS AND HONORS:
V.A. Scholarship 1992
U.S.C. Outstanding Academic Achievement, 1992 and 1993
U.S.C. Creativity in Nursing Award, 1992
U.S.C. Community Health Award, 1993
U.S.C. Sojourner Truth Award (Peer Award), 1994
U.S.C. Faculty Spirit of Nursing Award, 1994
CT Coalition to Improve EOL Care Safe Passage Clinical Excellence, 2016
PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Connecticut Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Role: President/Executive Director/Founder
• Currently working on outreach efforts to African American and Spanish-speaking churches in CT to offer education regarding advance directives and EOL with the goal of alleviating fear. The format is Death Cafes. These educational efforts will be led by church leadership to the congregation.
• Membership on CT MOLST advisory council. Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, 2004- Present
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
• Enduring Educational Content Design and Presenter 2023
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing
• Reviewer 2022-Present
Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses and American Nurses Association
American Nurses Association Professional Issues Panel
A Call to Action: Nurses Lead and Transform Palliative Care
• Advisory Committee – 2016-2017
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association CT State Ambassador –Present
• Keep national office abreast of legislation that affects palliative care and HPNA.
• California State Ambassador – 2009-2012
• Develop relationships with California legislators and represent HPNA and palliative care interests as the HPNA California State Ambassador. • Determines scholarships for future certified nurses’ certification fees and attendance to annual conferences.
• Developed and presented HPNA National Teleconferences on the topics of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: The Physiology of Dehydration and Death and The Use of Fentanyl Patches.
HPNA Foundation Certification Scholarship Selection Committee — 2012
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association-approved educator — 2012
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization – 2016-Present
• Hospice Action Network (policy and advocacy)
Connecticut Hispanic Nurses Association – 2013-2014
Board of Directors 2012-2015
Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Care – 2012-2016
• Advanced Care Planning Committee Chair
• Conference Planning Committee
• Education Committee.
Connecticut MOLST Task Force, member, 2012 – Present
Helped to develop research protocol and regional pilot manager for statewide MOLST pilot study.
Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Ongoing regulatory updates
Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative, Board Member, 2011–2012
SCCPI has a membership of over 3,000. The goals of SCCPI are to improve the knowledge of healthcare professionals involved in cancer pain management, identify, and overcome regulatory barriers, and help promote awareness of long-term chronic pain sufferers.
Hospital Association of Southern California, Palliative Task Force, 2009- 2012
As a task force member, contributes to the regional strategy and discussion of advancing palliative care in Southern California Hospitals and the community. Forged Long Beach Memorial and HASC relationship to collaborate on the Total Pain: Total Care Conference.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS (Professional Education)
Hospice and Palliative Care Virtual Didactic Series
Prisma Health Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Physiology of Dehydration and Death
Jun. 7, 2023
University of South Carolina Palliative Care Conference
University of South Carolina, Columbia. Medical School
Devolving Sense of Coherence: a newly discovered source of suffering
Apr. 28, 2023
Universidad de la Sebana, Colombia School of Medicine
Diagnosing Dying
Jan. 20, 2023
Fairfield University, Ethan School of Nursing, Kanarek Center for Palliative Care
Final Hours of Life Care at the Time of Death
Nov. 9, 2022
Yale School of Medicine: Program for Bioethics
Palliative Sedation
Dec. 12, 2018
YNHH Primary Residents Care Palliative Didactic Day
Culture, Spirituality & Death
Feb. 8, 2014, to Present
A three-year curriculum for Primary Care Residents in Palliative Care Curriculum. Was then adopted by Internal Medicine Residency Program. Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
California State University Institute for Palliative Care
National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care Education and Research
Paper Presentation: Using the Rothman Index and Length of Stay as a Trigger for Palliative Care in the Medical Intensive Care Unit and Step-Down Units
Nov. 11, 2018
Connecticut Hospital Association Hospitalist Meeting
The Rothman Index and Palliative Care
June 23, 2017
Yale New Haven Hospital
Hope vs. Realism: What We Tell or Don’t Tell Terminal Patients
March 8, 2017
Center to Advance Palliative Care Poster Presentation
Rothman Index and Length of Stay Trigger to Identify Unmet Palliative Needs
Nov. 11, 2015
Yale New Haven Hospital
Nursing Grand Rounds
An Introduction to the CT MOLST Pilot for Clinicians
Jan. 12, 2015
Yale New Haven Hospital
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Workshop Faculty
Professional Issues, Policy and Economics of Hospice and Palliative Nursing
Nov. 2013 – 2019 (Quarterly)
Hospice and Palliative Care Advocacy, Professionalism and Processes for Nurses Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Preparation Workshop
November 11, 2014
Yale Medical School Palliative Care Conference
Case Study: Young African Male with Salivary Carcinoma, Mucosal Pain and Cultural Complications
Oct. 21, 2014
Visiting Nurses Association Community Providers Elder Care Conference
An Introduction to MOLST for the Community
Sept. 9, 2014 Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Connecticut Coalition to Improve End of Life Care Annual Conference: New Directions in Palliative Care.
Chronic Malignant Pain Management: Strategies that Work
April 12, 2014
Yale New Haven Hospital, CT Coalition to Improve End-of-Life
Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains
ELNEC
Lead Nurse Planner
Feb 28- March 1, 2013 and Sept. 30- Oct. 1, 2013
Multicultural Nurses Council of Southern California
Multicultural Aspects of Death and Dying Integration of Values into Practice
Oct. 2011
Hospital Association of Southern California/Long Beach Memorial Hospital
Total Pain: Total Care Conference
Integration of Values into Practice
Director
April 2011
University of Southern California Medical School
Palliative Care Lecture
Nov. 2010
University of Southern California Graduate Social Worker Students
Palliative Care Lecture
Spring 2010
Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA
Guest Lecturer Sociology
Controversial Issues in End of Life Care
June 2007
Fuller Seminary
Guest Lecturer Class: The Ethics of Death and Dying
Physiology of Death and Dehydration: Withdrawal of Artificial Nutrition Hydration
Spring 2005
Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Grand Rounds,
Hospice and End Stage Chronic Illness Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
Winter 2005
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
NANDA International
Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group
Sigma Theta Tau
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
CURRICULA DEVELOPED FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Yale New Haven Hospital Simulation Nursing Orientation: Care of the Dying Patient
Yale Primary Care Physician Residency Palliative Generalist Curriculum (12 hours)
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse Workshop Curriculum (8 hours)
Patient Advocacy and the Withdrawal of Treatment.
Risks and Benefits of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: Education of the Family.
Palliative Wound Management.
Diagnosing Dying: Hospice and Palliative Nursing Enduring Education
Determination of Terminal Diagnosis and Appropriateness for Hospice.
Pain Management for Hospice 101
Curriculum for a Hospice Ethics Committee (8 hours.)
Withdrawal of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: Dehydration and the Physiology of Death
Pain Crisis Intervention Curriculum (8 hours)
Hospice and Palliative Care Advocacy, Professionalism and Processes for Nurses
ETHICS COMMITTEES
Yale New Haven Hospital, Saint Raphael Campus, Ethics Committee, 2012-2019
Member—Reviewed cases and consultations and advised upon issues specific to end-of-life care.
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Ethics Committee, 2009-2012
Member—Reviewed cases and consultations and advised upon issues specific to end-of-life.
White Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Ethics Committee, 2008 – 2012
Community Member – Review of cases involving ethical dilemmas and consultations. Advise on issues specific to end-of-life care. White Memorial Hospital serves the largest Mexican patient population besides Mexico City.
PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
April 2023-Present
Middlesex Hospital
Supervisor: Melanie Cama RN, MSN
Director of Palliative Services
Outpatient Palliative Clinic Nurse Practitioner Per Diem
Provide initial intake examination.
Develop a plan of care, and follow patients throughout their course of care.
April 2022-December 2022
AccentCare Hospice
Supervisor: Deirdre Doyle, RN, Executive Director
Contracted Inpatient Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at UCONN
Provided consults for inpatients until contract terminated.
November 2019 – 2022
Sabbatical for PhD studies
March 2012- Nov. 2019
Yale New Haven Hospital SRC
Supervisor: Ernest Moritz MD, Medical Director of Palliative Services
Program Manager, Palliative Services Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
• Directing development and implementation of hospital-wide sustainable palliative consultation program across the continuum of care in accordance with the eight domains of care set out by the National Consensus Project. Responsible for Hospital needs assessment, strategy, protocols, policy, dissemination of information, marketing, direct clinical care, data collection for program results, reporting of data to various administrative bodies throughout the hospital, and dissemination of results for collaborative design projects.
• Statewide MOLST Task Force: Developing statewide research protocol for MOLST pilot in Connecticut. Advising and guiding the statewide committee for MOLST as a palliative expert to develop legislation and policy.
• Implementing statewide nursing educational efforts to promote palliative certification for nurses in collaboration with the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and the Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Coalition
• Provide education to a diverse and interdisciplinary team for the Yale Medical School End of Life Education Program.
• Provide scientific and evidenced-based education to all residents regarding communication of end-of-life goals of care discussions.
• Developed and mentored residents to deliver scientific and evidenced-based education regarding pain and symptom management.
• Member of Connecticut American Cancer Association Palliative Task Force to develop statewide strategy and policy.
• Member and ethics consultant for YNHH Ethics Committee.
• Faculty of Yale Medical School End of Life Education Program.
• Affiliated Faculty of Yale Medical School Bioethics Program.
• Yale Nursing School Clinical Faculty.
• ANA advisory committee member for position statement “Call for Action: Nurses Lead and Transform Palliative Care.”
Notable Achievements at YNHH
• Clinical Redesign (Collaborative Design Project) – YNHH Palliative Best Practice Alert Trigger System (quantitative and qualitative pieces)
• Hip Fracture Program (Co-production Project) –Trigger consults for patients with Dementia/Hip FX/SNF
• CHF Palliative Program (Co-production Project) – Trigger and collaboration with the CHF team for consultations for inpatients with ambulatory palliative follow-up
• Resident Education – Generalist Curriculum for Primary Care Resident Program
• Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing Certification Workshop Curriculum
- • Quality Improvement for Palliative Care Triggers Using the Rothman Index/LOS o ICU/Step-Down Units
- o Hospital Wide
- • EOL Order Set
- • Dashboard Development to measure outcomes for palliative care
Rebecca Gagne-Henderson, PhD, APRN, ACHPN, FNP
• Simulation End-of-Life Scenario for New RN Orientation
• ELNEC- Presented to train the trainer courses statewide – 270 CT nurses trained
• QI quantitative pilot for triggers published in Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing (2017). A technology-supported project.
Oct. 2009 – Feb. 2012
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Supervisor: Steven B. Leven, MD, Palliative Medical Director Contact: 562-884-3783
Palliative Services Coordinator
• Developed, directed and implemented a 580-bed hospital wide inpatient consultative service, sustainable pain and palliative service in concordance with
the eight domains of care set out by the National Consensus Project. responsible for strategy, protocols, dissemination of information, marketing, direct clinical care, collection of data showing results of program, reporting of data to various administrative bodies throughout the hospital (i.e., Medical Affairs Committee, Todd Cancer Center Committee, Board of Directors), Education directed to the needs of nurses, physicians, residents and administrators regarding Palliative Care.
Notable achievements at LBMH:
• Received approval for outpatient palliative clinic-projected start date 2012
• Received funding for full dedicated interdisciplinary program
• Received approval for inpatient dedicated beds
• Successfully presented the Total Pain: Total Care transdisciplinary conference featuring acclaimed speakers of national and international notoriety in the field of palliative care and pain.
• Successfully educated 71 in-house staff in the ELNEC Core Curriculum
• Lead 6 RNs to sit for CHPN certification
• Developed Pain Crisis Intervention Project for 24 hour pain call service to increase HCHAPS scores on pain and patient satisfaction.
• Developed Quality Improvement Project to lower hospital mortality scores.
• California Hospital Association Palliative Care Task Force • Direction and Management of seventeen interdisciplinary staff. Responsible for all matters regarding DHS, Medicare Conditions of Participation and Title 22 compliance.
July 2005 –Sept. 2007
VNA Care Home Health and Hospice, Glendale, CA Supervisor: Gary Brown, MD, Medical Director
Deceased
Administrator/Director of Patient Care Services
• Day-to-day operations of home health and hospice agency, including the bereavement program, chaplaincy, social work, and volunteer program.
• Accountable Board of Directors for all reports, census, contracts, and financial matters.
• Responsible for Quality Assurance Program and Professional Advisory Committee meetings and reports.
• Obtained contracts and marketed in surrounding community hospitals to grow census.
Notable Achievements at VNA Care:
• Strategized to cut pharmaceutical costs by 29% within the first quarter of employment.
• Increased census by 600% within 6 months
• Obtained very competitive contracts with HMOs
• Turned around the company which had announced the closure • Performed duties of Case Manager
• Responsible for Staff Development
• Mentored/supported nurses in the field
- • Set into place operational systems such as intake, orders, certifications and re-certifications, other compliance issues. o Designed and implemented a Plan of Corrections in response to Department of Health Services.
Dec. 2004 – July 2005
Silverado Hospice, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Supervisor: Scott Robinson, RN, MSN, Vice President of Hospice Contact: 949-240-7744
RN Case Manager
Oct. 2003 – Jan. 2005
Hospice Cheer, South Pasadena, CA Supervisor: Ken Lehman, Owner
Contact: 213-389-6900
RN Case Manager
• Chair of Hospice Ethics Committee, Member of Pain Committee, and Formulary Committee
• Community Education
• Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Coordinator
Oct. 2001-Oct. 2003
Monterey Park Hospital, Monterey Park, CA
Post-Partum Nurse
Newborn Nursery-cared for newborns without complications
Cared for post-partum patients
Cared for patients in pre-term labor
Aug. 1998 – Oct. 1999 then
October 2007 – Sept. 2008
Whittier Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospice – Hospice House, Whittier, CA Supervisor: Mary Nonamacher, RN, Director of Clinical Services
Contact: 562-698-0811
RN Charge Nurse (inpatient hospice care)
• Provided palliative care to the most complicated general in-patient level of care hospice patients (symptoms out of control).
• Served as per diem night and weekend telephone triage, on call. (2007-2008)
Notable Achievements at Whittier Presbyterian:
• Reduced patient medication expense by $1000 per day/patient receiving infusions through procedural change.
June 1997 – Feb. 2001
Behavioral Health Corporation, Rosemead, CA Supervisor: Linda Park RN
Contact: 626-286-1191
House Supervisor/RN Charge
• Worked intermittently as Night House Supervisor on Pediatric and Adolescent units.
• Worked as per diem weekend charge RN on Pediatric and Adolescent units.
June 1997 – Aug. 1999
Sun Alliance Hospice, Pasadena, CA (Formerly VNA of Pasadena, now defunct)
RN Case Manager
• Team leader of interdisciplinary team
• Responsible for clinical care of the patient
Feb. 1995 – June 1997
Veteran’s Administration Outpatient Clinic, Los Angeles, CA Supervisor: Edna Busahlah RN, Chief of Nursing
Contact: 213-253-2677
Ambulatory Care Nurse
HIV Clinic Founder and Coordinator
• Founded HIV clinic, identified high risk clinic patients and HIV patients
• Provided Case management for HIV patients, wrote protocols for HIV clinic
• Identified need and validated funding for clinic. Developed HIV intake tool and HIV nurse assessment tool for clinic
• Diabetic Educator, HIV Counselor
June 1995 – Sept. 1998
Unique Home Health, Pasadena, CA Supervisor: Lisa Dorsey, RN, PhD Contact: 626-577-7596
• Provided skilled home health visits to patients in their homes.
• Provided case management and supervision to LVN’s and CHHA
Home Health RN