Grief, Loss, and Bereavement Flashcards

Fundamental vocabulary terms and definitions regarding grief, bereavement, clinical signs of death, and nursing care for the dying client based on lecture notes.

Loss

The absence of someone or something to which the affected person has formed an attachment.

Grief

The emotional response to a loss that produces feelings including anger, frustration, loneliness, sadness, guilt, regret, a sense of resolution, and peace.

Anticipatory grief

Cognitive, affective, cultural, and social reactions to an expected death, felt by the client as well as family members and friends.

Mourning

The outward, social expression of loss.

Bereavement

The inner feelings and outward expressions of people experiencing loss.

Complicated grief

Distressing symptoms lasting at least $6$ months after the death of a significant person.

Chronic grief

Grief reactions that do not diminish over time.

Delayed grief

The suppression of the grief reaction.

Exaggerated grief

A type of complicated grief where the survivor is overwhelmed by grief.

Masked grief

Behaviors of the survivor that interfere with normal functioning and conceal the actual grieving process.

Disenfranchised grief

Any loss that is not validated or recognized.

Signs and symptoms of impending death

Physical manifestations including decrease in urine output, cold and mottled extremities, changes in vital signs, and changes in breathing patterns.

Signs and symptoms of death

Absence of heartbeat and respirations, involuntary release of stool and or urine, lack of any response to verbal or tactile stimuli, and a drop in body temperature.

Death Anxiety

A nursing diagnosis characterized by statements of fear of dying, suffering, powerlessness over the process, or of leaving family, often with a prognosis of less than $6$ months.

Chronic Sadness

A nursing diagnosis involving continued sadness and depression, such as after an amputation, including statements of fear, helplessness, and low self-esteem.

Advance directives

Legal documents that can inform health care providers about a client’s goals of care and whom to contact for decisions about that care.

Palliative care

Care that begins at the time of diagnosis and includes curative measures while providing relief from pain and other symptoms for serious illness.

Hospice care

Supportive care provided to clients with a life expectancy of $6$ months or less who decide to forego curative treatment.

Nearing death awareness

A phenomenon where people nearing death may appear confused and report speaking to or seeing already deceased persons.

Postmortem Care Positioning

Placing the body supine, positioning arms at sides, elevating head and shoulders, inserting dentures, and closing eyes gently.