Core Concepts of Loss and Grieving Grief is the subjective emotional response to loss, while grieving (bereavement) is the process of experiencing it, and mourning is the outward, culturally defined expression. Losses fundamentally disrupt Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, threatening physiological integrity, safety, security, self-esteem, and self-actualization. The grieving process is highly dynamic and unique to each individual; it is never an orderly progression.

Major Frameworks of Grieving Nurses utilize several key theories to understand the grief process:

• Kübler-Ross: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
• Bowlby: Numbness, emotional yearning, cognitive disorganization, and reorga ...