Reflection Paper On Grief

The definition of grief has not been clearly defined or agreed upon, the duration, expected outcome and course of grief is still controversial among scientific communities that attempt to study and understand it (Howarth 2011). The definition of grief according to most sources entails the human reaction to separation, bereavement, or loss. Grief is widely regarded as a subjective experience specific to each individual consisting of emotional, spiritual, physical, cultural, and social dimensions (Bugless 2010). Grief is often thought of as a process or series of stages containing a variety of emotions that one must go through after experiencing loss. Often thought of as a mechanism of coping, one must overcome grief in order to achieve normalcy after experiencing loss. Bereavement is regarded as an unspecified period of time following the death of a loved one (Smit 2015).
Chronic grief is viewed as an experience by someone who has not shown recovery after a period of six months to a year. The Institute of Medicine has accepted chronic grief as having the same symptoms as normal (acute) grief, only exhibiting

Reactions to grief vary by individual according to factors such as culture, age, or time since loss (Howarth 2011). Kolcaba’s theory of comfort is a fitting concept to guide the care provider (nurse, friend, family member or other) through understanding thus leading to action in fulfilling the needs through relief, and ease of the grieving and ultimately to an outcome of transcendence. By recognizing and understanding grief when we see it as a care provider we are able to apply Kolcaba’s comfort theory to our care to meet the specific needs of the grieving individual thereby strengthening them on their journey to attain