Excelsior: Foundations In Nursing Practice

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Abbreviated Grieving

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Normal grieving: Feelings that are brief but genuinely felt; can occur when the lost object is not significantly important or is immediately replaced

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Actual Loss

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Can be verified by everyone
(Loss of a loved one, job or home)

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Algor Mortis

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Gradual cooling of the body after death; body temp falls about 1.8F or 1C every hour until room temp is reached. Patient's skin loses elasticity and is easily torn.

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Anticipatory Grieving

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Normal grieving: Occurs in advance of the event; can be so intense and prolonged that when the actual loss occurs, the following grief response may be short
(long terminal illness)

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Bereavement

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Refers to the subjective sense of loss people fel after the death of a person with whom they have shared a significant relationship (includes coworkers, friends and neighbors)

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Cerebral (higher-brain) Death

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Permanent loss of cerebral function, apnea, absence of responsiveness to external stimuli and cephalic reflexes. A bioelectric EEG for 30 minutes must be done to support the diagnosis of death.

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Cheyne-Stokes Respirations

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Observed near death; Shallow breaths can alternate with periods of no breathing that last anywhere from 5 seconds to 1 minute

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Delayed Grieving

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Dysfunctional: emotional response is either consciously or subconsciously suppressed until a later time

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Developmental Loss

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Normal life transition, sometimes predictable (preparing for a child's wedding)

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Disenfranchised Grieving

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Situation in which a person is unable to acknowledge grief to others.
(abortion or giving a child up for adoption, loss of a homosexual partner or extramarital affair partner)

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Dysfunctional Grieving

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Pathological or complicated grieving; occurs when strategies to cope with a loss are maladaptive; caused by cultural barriers, sudden death, strained relationship with the deceased, survivor guilt, prior traumatic loss, inadequate support systems

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Grief

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Overarching response that a person has to a loss, including behaviors, thoughts, emotions and physical responses associated with overwhelming sorrow

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Heart-Lung Death

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Cessation of a person's apical pulse, respirations and blood pressure. With the advent of life support, WMA added lack of response to external stimuli, absence of muscular movement and reflexes, flat EEG

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Hospice Care

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The support and care of a dying person and family. Goal is to facilitate a peaceful and dignified death.

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Inhibited Grieving

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Dysfunctional: expected emotional and psychological responses are suppressed, experiences other somatic symptoms

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Mourning

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Refers to the behavioral process that helps resolve or alter a person's grief. Influenced by culture, spiritual beliefs, customs and personality

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Normal Grieving

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Either abbreviated or anticipatory

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Palliative Care

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Comprehensive approach to the care of clients with life threatening or severe, advanced illnesses. Focuses on the total person (holistic) and family support. Encourages pt to live life to its fullest within the context of the illness.

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Perceived Loss

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Cannot be verified by other people
(Loss of freedom after childbirth or unemployment)

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Perideath Period

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The period immediately before death, the actual time of death, and the period immediately following death

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Rigor Mortis

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Temporary rigidity of muscles that occurs 2-4 hours after death due to a lack of ATP. Begins in involuntary muscles and extends to extremities. Usually lasts 96 hours. Position body, insert dentures, close eyes/mouth before it sets in.

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Shroud

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Large piece of plastic or cotton material used to enclose a body after death.

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Situational Loss

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Not anticipated
(death of a child, loss of functional ability due to an illness, catastrophic event)

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Unresolved Grieving

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Dysfunctional: chronic grief that is extended in length and severity