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acceptance
a grief stage marked by understanding the loss and acknowledging the new reality
active euthanasia
the administering of a lethal dose of medication to someone who wishes to die
actual loss
a loss clearly noticed by others
advance directive (also, living will)
a written legal document that details specific interventions a person wants
agonal breathing
gasping, labored breaths that may result in periods of apnea lasting many seconds
allow natural death (AND)
a directive allowing a natural unfolding of the dying process rather than withholding treatments
anger
a grief stage marked by an intense feeling of displeasure and hostility
anticipatory loss
a loss that an individual expects or foresees
apnea
temporary pauses in breathing
autopsy
a medical procedure in which a deceased person's body is systematically examined to determine the cause of death and to gain additional insights into the person's health and medical history
bargaining
a grief stage marked by attempts to “make a deal” that might change or renegotiate the undesired outcome
bereavement
the feeling of grief and the outward expression of mourning
Cheyne-Stokes breathing
a pattern of abnormal breathing characterized by progressively deeper and sometimes faster breathing, followed by a gradual decrease that results in a temporary stop in breathing (apnea)
comfort care
interventions that promote the comfort of the patient and family during the dying process
compassion fatigue
the emotional toll experienced by individuals caring for others
complicated grief
a state of grief that is prolonged, delayed, or exaggerated in which individuals have trouble coping and progressing through the normal grief process
death
the cessation of biological life functions
death certificate
a legal document, signed by a provider, confirming the circumstances of a person’s death
denial
a grief stage marked by refusal to acknowledge a loss or insistence that it isn’t happening
depression
a grief stage marked by prolonged sadness that affects an individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks
do not intubate (DNI)
an order stating that if a person stops breathing, medical personnel such as providers and nurses are not to place an intubation tube
do not resuscitate (DNR)
an order stating that if a person stops breathing or their heart stops beating, medical personnel such as providers and nurses are not to take steps to revive or resuscitate the patient
dysfunctional grief
grief that does not resolve as expected or in which an individual resorts to unhealthy coping strategies
euthanasia
the act of helping a person fulfill their wish to die
grief
the emotional response to loss
healthcare proxy
a specific person appointed to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself
homicide
the killing of one person by another person
hospice care
a specific type of comfort care provided at the end of life
loss
a real or perceived absence of a possession, circumstance, or individual
maturational losses
losses that occur at predictable intervals during an individual's life span
mottling
a bluish-red, lace-like (reticular) coloration of the skin
mourning
the outward, personal expression of grief
organ donation
the donation of organs or tissue that are removed from a person’s body and used for treatment in another person’s body or for other medical uses
palliative care
an interdisciplinary approach to specialized medical and nursing care for people with life-limiting illnesses
palliative sedation
the administration of pharmaceutical agents to reduce consciousness
pallor
an extremely pale hue of the skin
pallor mortis
a pale to greyish color of the skin that occurs shortly after death
passive euthanasia
the choice to withhold life-sustaining treatment with the intent to hasten death
perceived loss
a loss that an individual distinctly feels as an absence, though it may not be apparent to others
physician order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) (also, portable medical order)
a personal directive for medical care
physiological death
the state in which the body ceases to function, eventually rendering the individual unable to engage in necessary basic processes
postmortem care
the care provided for an individual immediately after death
procurement
the harvesting of organs or tissues for organ donation
provider-assisted death
the act of a provider prescribing the means by which a person can end their own life
psychological death
the state in which the individual begins to face their impending death and consequently regresses into the self
respite care
temporary care for an individual to provide relief to their usual caregiver
rigor mortis
the stiffening of the muscles in the body after death
rumination
the act of focusing on wrongs from the past
situational loss
a loss associated with expected or unexpected life changes for an individual
societal death
the state in which others, perhaps unable to effectively cope with the imminent loss and its implications, withdraw from the dying individual
suicide
death caused by intentional harm to oneself
terminal illness
a disease state for which no cure is known; also referred to as a life-limiting disease
terminal weaning (also, terminal extubation)
the removal or discontinuation of life-sustaining treatments, procedures, or devices such as a ventilator
voluntary euthanasia
the act of helping someone fulfill their wish to die
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