Final Exam Fundamentals # 3 Questions
with Correct Answers
What types of grief might a nurse encounter in a clinical setting? - Answer-Clients may
be experiencing grief related to declining health, loss of a body part, terminal illness, or
the impending death of self or a significant other. It is important for the nurse to
understand the significance of loss and develop the ability to assist clients as they work
through the grieving process.
What is loss? - Answer-Loss is an actual or potential situation in which something that is
valued is changed or no longer available. There are two general types of loss: actual
and perceived.
What is actual loss? - Answer-An actual loss can be recognized by others.
What is a perceived loss? - Answer-A perceived loss is experienced by one person but
cannot be verified by others.
***Psychological losses are often perceived losses in that they are not directly verifiable.
What is an anticipatory loss? - Answer-An anticipatory loss is experienced before the
loss actually occurs.
Aspect of self - Answer-The loss of an aspect of self changes a person's body image,
even though the loss may not be obvious. The degree to which these losses affect a
person largely depends on the integrity of the person's body image.
Loss of external objects - Answer-a) Loss of inanimate objects that have importance to
the person.
b) Loss of animate (live) objects such as pets that provide love and companionship.
Familiar environment - Answer-Separation from an environment and people who
provide security can result in a sense of loss.
Loved ones - Answer-The loss of a loved one or valued person through illness, divorce,
separation, or death can be very disturbing. The death of a loved one is a permanent
and complete loss.
What is grief? - Answer-The total response to the emotional experience related to loss.
What is bereavement? - Answer-A subjective response of a person who has
experienced the loss of a significant other through death.
,What is mourning? - Answer-An adjustment process which involves grief or sorrow over
a period of time and helps in the reorganization of the life of an individual following a
loss or death of someone loved.
What are the symptoms of grief? - Answer-Anxiety, depression, weight loss, difficulties
in swallowing, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, fainting, blurred vision,
skin rashes, excessive sweating, menstrual disturbances, palpitations, chest pain, and
dyspnea.
What is abbreviated grief? - Answer-Brief, but genuinely felt. lost object may not have
been sufficiently important to the grieving person/ may have been replaced immediately
by another, equally esteemed object.
What is anticipatory grief? - Answer-Characterized by the presence of grief in
anticipation of death or loss. the actual death comes as a confirmation of knowledge of
a life-limiting condition.
What is disenfranchised grief? - Answer-Grief or mourning that persons experience
when they incur a loss that is not or cannot be openly acknowledged, publicly mourned,
or socially supported. Situations in which this occur often relate to a socially
unacceptable loss that cannot be spoken about, such as suicide, abortion, or giving a
child up for adoption.
What is complicated grief? - Answer-A form of grief in which the individual's strategies to
cope with the loss are maladaptive. The disorder may be said to exist if the
preoccupation lasts for more than 6 months and leads to a reduced ability to function
formally.
What is unresolved grief? - Answer-(Also: Chronic Grief) Grief that is extended in length
or severity. The same signs are expressed as with normal grief, but the bereaved may
also have difficulty expressing the grief, may deny the loss, or may grieve beyond the
expected time.
What is inhibited grief? - Answer-Many of the normal symptoms of grief are suppressed
and other effects, including somatic, are experienced instead.
What is delayed grief? - Answer-Occurs when feelings and are purposely or
subconsciously suppressed until a much later time.
What is exaggerated grief? - Answer-Persons become overwhelmed by grief, and they
cannot function. This is reflected in the form of severe phobias or self-destructive
behaviors such as alcoholism, substance abuse, or suicide.
What are contributing factors to complicated grief? - Answer-Prior traumatic loss, family
or cultural barriers to the emotional expression of grief, sudden death, strained
, relationships between the survivor and the deceased, and lack of adequate support for
the survivor.
What are contributing factors to unresolved grief? - Answer-Ambivalence towards the
lost person, a perceived need to be brave and in control, endurance of multiple losses,
extremely high emotional value invested in the dead person, uncertainty about the loss,
and lack of support systems.
List the Kübler-Ross stages of grief - Answer-1) Denial
2) Anger
3) Bargaining
4) Depression
5) Acceptance
Denial (Kübler-Ross) - Answer-Defense mechanism by which people refuse to believe
or even to perceive painful realities. May assume artificial cheerfulness to prolong
denial.
Anger (Kübler-Ross) - Answer-A person expresses resistance and sometimes feel
intense anger at God, other people, or the situation. Client or family may direct anger at
nurse or staff about matters that normally would not bother them.
Bargaining (Kübler-Ross) - Answer-Seeks to bargain to avoid loss.
Depression (Kübler-Ross) - Answer-The client grieves over what has happened and
what cannot be. May talk freely or may withdraw.
Acceptance (Kübler-Ross) - Answer-A grief stage in which the individual has come to
terms with the reality of his or her(or a loved one's) imminent death. May have
decreased interest in surroundings and support people. May wish to begin making
plans.
List Engel's stages of grieving - Answer-1) Shock and disbelief
2) Developing awareness
3) Restitution
4) Resolving the loss
5) Idealization
6) Outcome
Shock and disbelief (Engel's) - Answer-Refuses to accept loss. Has stunned feelings.
Accepts the situation intellectually, but denies it emotionally.
Developing awareness (Engel's) - Answer-Reality of loss begins to penetrate
consciousness. Anger may be directed at agency, nurses, or others.
Restitution (Engel's) - Answer-Conducts rituals of mourning.
