There are different types of loss, such as absence of someone, miscarriage, body part functioning (unable to walk), loss of status, loss of job. Throughout life people form attachments and the stronger the attachment the stronger the loss. When attachments are broken, people often adapt to the loss and subsequently to change.
Grief is a natural emotional response to loss. People grieve in different ways, for different durations (depression, to rage, to avoidance). The grieving process is considered to be characterized by feelings of great sadness and anger, physical symptoms such as weight loss and insomnia, a preoccupation with the death and difficulty concentrating.
Once a person has died, the body is given back to the family for the burial rituals/ preparation. Nurses must be ware of their own culture and religious beliefs and must respect other cultures.