Nursing Lecture: Death, Loss, and Grief

This set of flashcards covers vocabulary regarding types of loss, the stages of grief, physical signs of impending death, and end-of-life care based on Chapter 42.

Loss

Something a person loses that affects them because they have formed an attachment to it.

Actual loss

A loss experienced by a person that is seen and verified by other people, such as a death at a funeral.

Perceived loss

Loss that is felt by the person experiencing it but is not seen or known by others, such as a hidden mastectomy.

Anticipatory loss

Feelings of grief and loss experienced before the event actually happens.

Situational loss

Loss caused by a specific situation; it can be actual, perceived, or anticipatory.

Developmental loss

Loss related to a person's stage of life, such as a child leaving for college or an aging parent's decline.

Empty nest syndrome

Feelings of loss that occur at a certain stage of life when children move away from the home.

Grief

The emotional response to a loss, which can include feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, or relief.

DABDA

An acronym for the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Denial

A defense mechanism and the first stage of grief characterized by disbelief and statements like, 'No, it can't be me.'

Anger

The second stage of grief where the person realizes the situation is true and may look to blame others, asking, 'Why me?'

Bargaining

The third stage of grief involving a defense mechanism where the person looks for a way to fix the problem, often negotiating with a higher power.

Depression

The fourth stage of grief where the person shows sadness, feels that things no longer matter, and may lose the will to continue.

Acceptance

The final stage of grief when the person comes to terms with their loss and realizes that life must go on.

Normal grief

Physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions to loss that typically resolve within a timeframe expected by society.

Mourning

The social expression of loss, including rituals and traditions related to a person's culture.

Bereavement

A period of time that includes both internal grief and outward mourning following a loss.

Complicated grief

Also known as unresolved or complex bereavement, it is characterized by distressing symptoms lasting at least $6\,months$ after a loss.

Chronic grief

A type of complicated grief where distressing symptoms do not go away over an indefinite period of time.

Delayed grief

A type of complicated grief where the person suppresses their reaction to avoid the pain associated with loss.

Exaggerated grief

A type of complicated grief where a person is so overwhelmed they cannot function and may engage in self-destructive behaviors.

Masked grief

A type of complicated grief where the person's behaviors interfere with normal functioning though they are unaware the behaviors conceal actual grief.

Disenfranchised grief

Grief that occurs when a loss is not validated or recognized by society, such as the death of an ex-spouse.

Complicated loss

Loss that occurs suddenly, violently, or traumatically, such as multiple deaths in a natural disaster or a car accident.

Mottling

Purplish-reddish spots on the skin caused by blood settling in the dependent parts of the body as perfusion decreases near death.

Death rattle

Noisy respirations caused by secretions in the back of the throat when the gag reflex decreases during the dying process.

Cheyne-Stokes

A breathing pattern involving periods of tachypnea (fast breathing) followed by periods of apnea (absence of breathing).

Algor mortis

The cooling of the body that occurs after death.

Liver mortis

The bluish-purple discoloration of the skin after death caused by the settling of blood.

Rigor mortis

The stiffening of the joints and body that occurs after death.

Hospice

A program providing comfort and support for patients with a life expectancy of $6\,months$ or less who are not pursuing curative treatment.

Palliative care

Care focused on symptom relief for patients with serious illnesses; it can begin at diagnosis and include curative measures.

Postmortem care

Nursing care provided to the body after death has occurred, including cleaning and proper positioning.

Shroud

A cloth sheet or body bag used to cover and move a deceased person's body.