title: Grief: strategies for people anticipating or recovering from a loss.
abstract: A comprehensive, compassionate approach to caring for dying patients considers and responds to the needs of their families. Some of the most satisfying moments a nurse can encounter are those experienced while assisting a grieving family. The principal needs of families experiencing anticipatory grief are for honest, frequent information and unrestricted visiting, and accommodation of individual behaviors and rituals. After a death, a bereaved family can benefit from the nurse's attention to supporting grief behaviors and making referrals to community-based supports. Family needs will vary based on personality; coping strengths; supports within the community, family, and hospital; and culture and tradition. Flexible clinicians are able to accommodate most family needs.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans