When helping a person through grief work, the nurse knows:
A. Coping mechanisms that were effective in the past are often disregarded in response to the pain of a loss.
B. A person’s perception of a loss has little to do with the grieving process.
C. The sequencing of stages of grief may occur in order, they may be skipped, or they may recur.
D. Most clients want to be left alone.
Correct Answer: C. The sequencing of stages of grief may occur in order, they may be skipped, or they may recur.
Grief is manifested in a variety of ways that are unique to an individual and based on personal experiences, cultural expectations, and spiritual beliefs. The sequencing of stages or behaviors of grief may occur in order, they may be skipped, or they may recur. The amount of time to resolve grief also varies among individuals.
Option A: Coping mechanisms are the strategies people often use in the face of stress and/or trauma to help manage painful or difficult emotions. Coping mechanisms can help people adjust to stressful events while helping them maintain their emotional well-being.
Option B: When a person loses someone close to them, it is natural to grieve. This process takes time and involves many different emotions and behaviors. People with cancer and their families may also grieve other cancer-related losses. These may include the loss of a breast, the loss of fertility, or the loss of independence.
Option D: There is no specific time period suggested for any of these stages. Someone may experience the stages fairly quickly, such as in a matter of weeks, where another person may take months or even years to move through to a place of acceptance.