[Bereavement related to the death of a close relative. Nursing care]

The authors publish a consensus document designed to assist nursing professionals to recognize and work with bereavement related to the death of an intimate family member or friend, inside the conceptual framework for nursing treatment and care. This project exposes bereavement in a fashion similar to that used by "NANDA" for its distinct diagnostic categories: title, definition and distinguishing characteristics. Furthermore, the authors include an evaluation guide which may facilitate making a diagnosis between normal and dysfunctional bereavement; the authors propose objectives and activities which a nurse can perform to help to complete the bereavement process in a healthy and adaptive manner. In order to deal with these situations, a consensus document may be useful; at the same time this can become a professional development aide which includes theoretical knowledge about bereavement, adroitness in relation to helpful measures and which facilitates a conscious awareness by health professionals regarding their own personal attitudes and difficulties in the face of death and bereavement. Adequate nursing care during the first phases of this process, which helps the individual or family to mobilize all their resources, may lead to a better evolution of this process and to a recuperation of the affective loss.