Loss is the absence of anything valued, whether it was real or only thought to be so. Grief is a series of emotional responses to a loss and is frequently the internal aspect of a loss. Symptoms of grief might be cognitive, emotional, or somatic. Physical symptoms include feeling ill, headaches, muscle aches, exhaustion, sleeplessness, and decreased appetite, and weight gain or loss might also manifest. There could be cognitive symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, confusion, and hallucinations. There may be emotional sensations including guilt, shame, anxiety, dread, helplessness, grief, or emotions of relief. The two primary measures used to evaluate grief and loss are the Grief Intensity Scale and the Short Grief Questionnaire (Arnout, 2022). To help the patient and their family members deal with their grief, especially anticipatory mourning, the nurse must provide support. I will let them know what to anticipate as an AGACNP, including the mourning process, typical feelings, and tools to assist them in coping with the grief they are dealing with.
References
Arnout, B. A. (2022). The grief of loss among breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: How can palliative care workers help? Work, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-220400
Mo, L., Urbauer, D. L., Bruera, E., & Hui, D. (2020). Recommendations for Palliative and Hospice Care in NCCN Guidelines for Treatment of Cancer. The Oncologist, 26(1), 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1002/onco.13515
Younis, N. M., Ahmed, M. M., & Abdulsalam, R. R. (2021). Assessing the quality of life in palliative care. International Journal of Medical Toxicology & Legal Medicine, 24(3and4 and), 115–118. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-4614.2021.00067.x
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