Bereavement
Mourning is a complex and severe issue that extends to the individual’s emotional, spiritual, and interpersonal well-being (Pop-Jordanova, 2021). Nurses have a significant function in anticipating grief and providing information and guidance to patients and their families in grieving situations (Ernstmeyer & Christman, 2021). Personal loss in my childhood due to the death of my mother, with whom I had a close relationship, has influenced my understanding of care for grieving patients while balancing compassion and faith. From a nurse’s standpoint, it is crucial to comprehend loss’s impact on one’s thought pattern and approach, as this helps make patients feel valued and not alone. This concurs with the Christian theological framework for suffering, where hope, peace, and presence are cherished.
Personal experience of grief and bereavement
Grieving the loss of my mother was one of the most personal and life-altering occurrences as I learned lessons on mourning and bereavement. Her absence struck a chord with me emotionally, and I began to wonder how her experience could guide me when encountering patients and families in mourning. Thus, my Christian belief system provided a frame of reference and path through which I was directed toward healing and acceptance. In Spirituality in Nursing: It discusses the transition to Standing on Holy Ground and the role of spiritually supporting patients during grieving, highlighting that holistic interventions acknowledge patients’ spiritual and emotional well-being. It has helped me understand the comfort those in mourning require from others, even in prayers, listening ears, or words of hope where there is none.
The Influence of Grief on my Profession
Such personal circumstances have dramatically influenced my nursing profession. I understand that patients and families in mourning benefit from someone who validates their feelings of suffering and that they can be helped in finding comfort and hope. To provide comfort when engaging with patients and families mourning their loss, I try to spend time with them in prayer. If they are comfortable with it, share a Bible verse or read from the Bible about how God will comfort those who mourn. As highlighted in ‘Helping Patients, Families, Caregivers, and Physicians in the Grieving Process,’ such interventions are particularly useful in aiding individuals to feel validated on more than one level. Coping with grief is one of the most significant aspects of the care that I want to provide for the patients and their families to minimize the emotional and spiritual distress and make it possible to start the healing process, even if it means losing a loved one.
Approaches to Restore Hope to the People who are Undergoing Grief
Adherence to the Christian approach enables me to assist grieving patients with appropriate religious considerations in mind. For instance, by promoting hope and peace, I can assist patients and families in envisioning life beyond suffering and grief and provide comfort that mirrors biblical assurances. This approach is reflected in Romans 5:1-11 where loss is viewed as a process to endurance, character, and hope that gives purposeful suffering the profound message that even in the face of loss, there is hope (Rustøen, 2021). To those with similar beliefs, this can be a reassuring message of God with them when going through the process of grieving. Prayer support, the sharing of scripts, or simply the act of a listener can be a direct commission and a source of hope and comfort to such individuals, hence the biblical call to love our neighbors as Christ loves us.
References
Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (2021). Chapter 17 Grief and Loss. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; Chippewa Valley Technical College. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK591827/
Pop-Jordanova, N. (2021). Grief: Aetiology, Symptoms and Management. PRILOZI, 42(2), 9–18. https://doi.org/10.2478/prilozi-2021-0014
Rustøen, T. (2021). Hope: A Health Promotion Resource (G. Haugan & M. Eriksson, Eds.). PubMed; Springer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585656/
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Question
Getting Started
Grieving occurs at the end of life, but it also occurs whenever there is a profound loss. Patients and families grieve at the loss of health, of a significant other (through divorce, separation, or death), of income, and of possessions. Grieving has a physiological as well as a psychological effect. As nurses and as Christians, our interventions during the time of anticipatory as well as actual grieving have a profound effect on the patient. Appropriate interventions may help the patient and family obtain hope and peace.
Nurses must have a basic understanding of the grieving process, as well as the rites and rituals that influence patients and their families during this time. Understanding the grieving process allows the nurse to anticipate and intervene to decrease some of the suffering of the patient, family, and staff. In this discussion, you will be given the opportunity to discuss interventions, which aid in the grieving process, and reflect on the impact that patient loss has on your own personal emotions.
Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:
- Examine spiritual interventions for the patient, family, and nurse during the grief process.
Resources
- Textbook: Spirituality in Nursing: Standing on Holy Ground
- Web Article: “Helping Patients, Families, Caregivers, and Physicians in the Grieving Process“
- Web Article: “The Humbled Expert: An Exploration of Spiritual Care Expertise“
Bereavement
Instructions
- Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
- Review Chapter 11 & 12 in your textbook.
- Read the article entitled, “Helping Patients, Families, Caregivers, and Physicians in the Grieving Process.” You can access this web-based article at: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2007.20039/html
- Read the article entitled, “The Humbled Expert: An Exploration of Spiritual Care Expertise.” This article is available in a database (OVID) that allows one simultaneous user. Download the article and then be sure to close that browser. If you encounter a message saying that the user limit has been reached, you can wait until a later time or contact OCLS by filling out the OCLS Request Form. OCLS will send a scanned copy of the article within two (2) business days (not including weekends or holidays).
- Online students, navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following: (Onsite students will discuss the following in class)
- Share a loss you have experienced in your life (family member, patient, spouse, limbs, jobs…).
- Describe how the experience of that loss, as well as your own personal beliefs, have influenced the nursing care you provide to those who are grieving.
- As a nurse, with a Christian perspective, discuss how the concepts of hope and peace can be instilled to those who are experiencing loss.
- Cite and reference a minimum of one scholarly source.
- Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
- Your initial posting should be a minimum of four paragraphs in length that include a minimum of three sentences each.
- Read and respond to at least two of your classmates posting as well as follow-up questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.
- Your postings should also:
- Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
- Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
- Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.
- Be posted on a minimum of two days during the workshop.