The role of the nurse in advanced practice in bereavement care

The CNS may be instrumental in assisting patients, families, and staff in dealing effectively with loss and grief. This paper presents a review of theoretical and research literature examining theories and current research on grief. Physical and emotional responses to loss are discussed, and factors that influence the bereavement process are presented. The role of the CNS in facilitating grief resolution and in assisting the staff nurse to intervene appropriately with the bereaved is examined.