Question | Answer |
Loss | an encounter that one faces during the course of his or her life |
Grief | the feeling tone or the outward expression in response to a loss |
Anticipatory grief | a reaction to an expected loss, such as in terminal illness |
Maladaptive grief | responses usually exhibit an exaggerated, lengthy, unpredictable course that results in unresolved conflicts |
Mourning | the natural process that one goes through following a major loss |
Bereavement | a state of having sustained a loss |
Kubler-Ross’s stages | loss and grief |
does denial occur? | when the patient or family member believes that the doctor has made a mistake in the diagnosis and that death will not occur; with unexpected death |
What does denial allow? | time to deal with the full implication of the prognosis or the death |
Third phase of Bowlby’s Stages of Separation | Detachment: the child appears disinterested in the mother when she returns, indicates child’s attempt to reorganize and resign to the loss |
Physical loss | readily evident and visisble; i.e. death of a spouse, parent, child, or other close person |
Nursing care when an infant dies close to term | allow the parents the opportunity to see and possibly hold their child; tell them what to expect to see and be sensitive to whether they want to be alone or not |
School-age children’s concept of death? | have a capacity to understand the finality of death, often associate death with an accident, illness, or old age |
Christian Science religious beliefs and practices | visit from the Christian science reader. No last rites are performed and autopsies are forbidden |
Eastern Orthodoxy religious beliefs and practices | last rites are given to raise hope and courage and offer peace to the sick and dying |
Buddhism religious beliefs and practices | at death the body is left undisturbed for 8 hours. The body is cleansed, and then dressed in new clothing and jewelry. Cremation usually takes place within 7 days after death |
Judaism religious beliefs and practices | presence of Rabbi is desired; autopsy and cremation are forbidden |
Physical signs of approaching death | withdraw, focus inward, decrease in senses, some are quiet and still whereas others are restless and agitated, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, BP drops and P slows, bowel and bladder control weakens, less alert and aware, loss of heat |
Remember | ask open-ended question; be nonjudgmental |
Ask | what are your concerns? |
Determine | what is important for them at this time? |
Always | ensure privacy |
Try to | determine level of knowledge |
Attempt to | support and acknowledge feelings |
Don’t | use clichés (such as “He is better off”) |
What does a durable power of attorney for health care do? | makes the client’s wishes known and carries out some decisions regarding to the client’s medical care in the event that the client can no longer express themselves |
Euthanasia | assisted suicide; “mercy killing”; refers to the deliberate ending of one’s life and the withholding of treatment |
Goal of hospice care | promoting comfort |
what are adolescents' concept of death? | seen as a distant possibility because they believe that they are invincible and hearty |