Week Fifteen Flashcards
Actual Loss
Can be recognized by others
Loss
An actual or potential situation in which something that is valued is changed or is no longer available or is gone
Grief
The total response to the emotional experience related to loss. Manifested in thoughts, feelings, & behaviors.
Bereavement
The subjective response experienced by surviving loved ones after the death of someone they have shared a significant relationship with
Mourning
The behavioral process through which grief is eventually resolved of altered. It is often influenced by culture, spiritual beliefs, and customs.
Perceived Loss
Experienced by one person but cannot be verified by others
Anticipatory Loss
Experienced before the loss actually occurs
Sources of Loss
loss of aspect of self, loss of external objects, separation from familiar environment, loss of loved ones
Losses that may be experienced by individuals with chronic illnesses
loss of: personal identity, body image and self esteem, feelings on indestructibility, role function and/or performance, independence, privacy, and control over situation, mobility
Factors that affect the loss reactions
age, meaning of the loss/significance of the loss, culture, spiritual beliefs, gender, socioeconomic status, support system, cause of loss or death
Loss of Aspect of Self
body part, physiologic function, mastectomy, psychologic attribute
Loss of External Objects
inanimate or animate objects
Separation from Familiar Environment
environment and people
Loss of loved ones
loss or change of a loved one
Meaning of the loss/significance of the loss
carefully assess this without subjectively ascribing your own values that of the patient as you may incorrectly assume that a specific loss either is or is not traumatic
Culture (Factors that affect loss reaction)
How grief is expressed. customs associated with grieving
Spiritual beliefs
nurses should gain knowledge of the specific cultural and religious beliefs of the patient and help the patient deal with loss in a manner that is appropriate with their cultural and religious beliefs and practices
Socioeconomic Status
A person who is confronted with both severe loss and economic hardship may not be able to cope with either
Support System
The social support that is available from family, friends, coworkers, and former institutions.
What are some institutions that help with grief?
grief camps, churches, hospice
Cause of loss or death (factors)
individual and societal views of the death. Clean VS repulsive death that is beyond the control of others VS a preventable death
Assessing Loss and Grief
nursing history, assessment of personal coping resources, physical assessment, state of awareness
Assessing the state of awareness
The state of awareness shared by the dying person and the family affects the nurse’s ability to communicate freely with the patient and other healthcare team members to assist in the grieving process
Closed Awareness
The patient is unaware of the impending death. The family may lack full understanding and believe the patient will recover. PCP may believe it is best not to communicate diagnosis or prognosis. RN is then confronted with an ethical dilemma.