Nurse's Pocket Guide

complicated GRIEVING
Related Factors
GENERAL
Death/sudden death of a significant other
Emotional instability
Lack of social support
[Loss of significant object (e.g., possessions, job, status, home,
parts and processes of body)]
Defining Characteristics
SUBJECTIVE
Verbalizes anxiety, lack of acceptance of the death, persistent
painful memories, distressful feelings about the deceased,
self-blame
Verbalizes feelings of anger, disbelief, detachment from others
Verbalizes feeling dazed, empty, stunned, in shock
Decreased sense of well-being, fatigue, low levels of intimacy,
depression
Yearning
OBJECTIVE
Decreased functioning in life roles
Persistent emotional distress; separation/traumatic distress
Preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased, longing for the
deceased, searching for the deceased, self-blame
Experiencing somatic symptoms of the deceased
Rumination
Grief avoidance
Desired Outcomes/Evaluation
Criteria—Client Will:
• Acknowledge presence/impact of dysfunctional situation.
• Demonstrate progress in dealing with stages of grief at own pace.
• Participate in work and self-care/ADLs, as able.
• Verbalize a sense of progress toward grief resolution/hope for
the future.
Actions/Interventions
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 1.To determine causative/contributing
factors:
• Identify loss that is present. Note circumstances of death, such
as sudden or traumatic (e.g., fatal accident, suicide, homicide),
Information in brackets added by the authors to clarify and enhance
the use of nursing diagnoses.
350 Cultural Collaborative Community/Home Care