he bereavement process of the cancer patient's family: how to intervene

Abstract

This article based in an integrative literature review, focus on nurse intervention during the grieving process of family members of cancer patients, giving relevance to the nurses’ skills in communication, as well as in therapy massage of soft tissues and, also, addressing the lack of training in regards to the grieving process.

Aim: Characterize the grieving process of cancer patient family; identify the intervention of nurses in the grieving process of cancer patient family.

Methodology: To perform this integrative literature review were used scientific studies published in reference databases, between January 2009 and January 2015, with inclusion/exclusion previously defined, resulting in a combination of 6 publications relevant to the topic in question.

Results: There is no consensus on this subject since the available information is still very abstract.
However, after this integrative review, we are able to say that, although there are shortcomings in training of nurses in the death and the grieving process, their involvement is of paramount importance, primarily at the level of communication and as some specific therapies.

Conclusions: The main conclusions obtained by performing this review integrative literature indicate that it is essential that nurses acquire new skills and invest in the improvement of those who have already developed some. Becomes still important to empower families to deal with loss and grief situations.