Stress and Grief Management

The body's natural response to stress, involving the release of hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine, which increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Increased breathing rate and dilation of the airways caused by the stress hormone norepinephrine, leading to hyperventilation.

Stress-related changes in the digestive system, often causing a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and increased bowel activity.

Increased tension in large muscle groups and tremors in smaller muscles, potentially resulting in muscle spasms in the back, shoulders, and neck.

Recognizing nonverbal cues like fidgeting, restlessness, and facial expressions to identify underlying anxiety, fear, anger, irritability, and tension in patients.

Stress is the body's physiological response to a stimulus, while anxiety is the psychological response to a perceived threat.

Mild anxiety is a typical part of daily life. It can enhance alertness and even motivate learning.

Moderate anxiety is marked by physical signs like trembling, a shaky voice, muscle tension, and an increased heart rate.

Severe anxiety makes it difficult to focus and learn, and often involves physical symptoms like rapid breathing and nausea.

Patients may experience stress due to uncertainty about their illness, fear of the unknown, pain, cost of treatment, lack of knowledge, and potential harm.

Nurses may experience stress due to poor patient outcomes, risk of errors, unfamiliar situations, excessive workload, inadequate resources, and potential harm to themselves.

Stress can lead to various physical problems like cardiovascular diseases, impaired immune function, weight gain, and diabetes.

Stress can also lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A state of mental distress or emotional strain often caused by challenging situations.

A nursing diagnosis that describes when a patient is experiencing excessive worry and tension.

A nursing diagnosis that refers to a patient's difficulty in managing their responsibilities as a caregiver.

A nursing diagnosis indicating a patient's inability to adapt effectively to stressors.

A nursing diagnosis that signifies a patient's lack of confidence or self-worth due to stressful situations.

A nursing diagnosis that describes a state of being overloaded with stressors.

A nursing diagnosis that describes a patient's inability to fall or stay asleep consistently.

A nursing diagnosis that describes a planned and structured intervention to address a patient's immediate crisis.

The body's immediate response to a perceived threat. It involves physiological changes, often involuntary, aimed at survival.

A continuing process that helps maintain balance between internal and external environments, crucial for growth and well-being.

Lifestyle habits that can impact how we handle stress. These include things like diet, exercise, sleep, and safety.

Past events that shape our reaction to stressful situations. Positive experiences build resilience, while negative ones can make stress harder to manage.

A prolonged state of stress where the body's resources are depleted, leading to negative consequences like decreased immunity and poor wound healing.

The ability to cope with and overcome stressful situations.

Identifying potential factors that might increase the risk of stress for individuals, including life transitions, personal challenges, and physical limitations.

Understanding how stress impacts an individual's functioning, considering how their typical coping methods might be affected.

When someone comes to terms with a loss, they may experience a decreased interest in their surroundings and support people. They also might start making future plans.

The quality and significance of the lost relationship greatly influence the grief response.

Understanding the meaning a loss has for a patient helps explain their behavior, health, and well-being after the loss.

Life experiences shape the ways people cope with the stress of loss.

The medical criteria for declaring death include the cessation of breathing, no response to painful stimuli, lack of reflexes, and no spontaneous movement.

The practice of performing a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death. It is often mandated in unusual death situations.

Health care institutions are required to have policies in place to refer potential organ donors to specialized agencies. It is crucial for families of the deceased to understand the process and importance of organ donation.

The nurse plays a key role in offering vital support and guidance to the family members of the deceased during a difficult time.

A death where the individual experiences a sense of peace, dignity, and minimal suffering. It allows the person to die on their own terms, and it prioritizes control of symptoms, preparation for death, a sense of life completion, and a good relationship with healthcare professionals.

The process of providing care to a dying patient. It focuses on meeting both the physical and emotional needs of the patient and their family.

Developing a strong bond of trust with the patient and their family is essential. It involves open communication, empathy, and active listening.

Educating the patient about their condition and treatment plan, promoting self-care and self-esteem, and teaching family members how to assist in care are essential components of the nursing process.

Meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of dying patients is a critical part of the nursing process. It involves providing comfort, managing pain, and supporting their autonomy.