Death and Grief

Question 1

Identify the five stages of grief associated with dying.

Answer 1

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Question 2

A client has been told of a positive breast biopsy report. She asks no questions and leaves the health care provider’s office. She is overheard telling her husband, “The doctor didn’t find a thing.” What coping style is operating at this stage of grief?

Answer 2

Denial

Question 3

Your client, an incest survivor, is speaking of her deceased father, the perpetrator. “He was a wonderful man, so good and kind. Everyone thought so.” What would be the most useful intervention at this time?

Answer 3

Gently point out both the positive and negative aspects of her relationship with her father. Try to minimize the idealization of the deceased.

Question 4

your client feels responsible for his sister’s death because he took her to the hospital where she died. “If I hadn’t taken her there, they couldn’t have killed her.” It has been 1 month since her death. Is this response indicative of a normal or a complicated grief reaction?

Answer 4

This is a normal expression of the anger and guilt that occur. Try to minimize rumination on these thoughts.

Question 5

Mrs. Green lost her husband 3 years ago. She has not disturbed any of his belongings and continues to set a place at the table for him nightly. Is this response indicative of a normal or complicated grief reaction?

Answer 5

This is a dysfunctional grief reaction. Mrs. Green has never moved out of the denial stage of her grief work.