Loss without death: a dilemma for the head-injured patient's family.
Family members of a person suffering head injury are confronted with permanent alterations in the person they love. The change in the individual is experienced as a loss which must be grieved. This grieving process can be difficult since the presence of the head injury survivor serves as a constant reminder to the family of what they have lost. With an understanding of the concept of loss without death, nurses caring for the families of head-injured individuals may be better equipped to assist them through this difficult process.
Martin
K M
KM
Hartford Hospital, Connecticut 06115.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017741:Survivors