title: Families: facing the sudden death of a loved one.
abstract: As health care professionals, critical care nurses have a responsibility to assist families through the bereavement process. This article discusses how the critical care nurse can offer support to families facing the sudden death of a loved one.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Coolican
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003645:Death, Sudden; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support