11. Death and Dying

Question 1

What are the 5 stages of grief in Kubler-Ross’ model?

Answer 1

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

Question 2

How does the denial stage of grief present?

Answer 2

Refusal to accept the news as the truth and refusal to discuss the illness and or the future.

Question 3

How does the anger stage of grief present?

Answer 3

Patient feels frustrated, why them? They may search for alternatives having blamed it on the doctors.

Question 4

How does the bargaining stage of grief present?

Answer 4

Patient may make promises to staff or God in an attempt to reach a goal in the future.

Question 5

How does the depression stage of grief present?

Answer 5

Feelings of giving up and there is no point trying.

Question 6

How does the acceptance stage of grief present?

Answer 6

Patient realises it will be OK and is ready to make arrangements for the future, e.g. funeral arrangements.

Question 7

How can denial be a positive thing?

Answer 7

It initially is a means of coping with overwhelming information and emotions.

Question 8

What are the risk factors for poor outcomes of bereavement?

Answer 8

Prior bereavements, mental health problems, type of loss (if young person, nature of death, caring status), lack of social support, expression of grief discouraged and ending of grief discouraged.