d to those phases beyond anguish, namely, the malignant phase of despairful 'not caring," and the terminal phase of apathetic indifference" (Travelbee, 1966, p. 70).
To suffer, one must care, and to care, one must "experience some degree of attachment toward the object of one's care and concern" (Travelbee, 1966, p. 72). This relationship between suffering and care is the basis of the nurse's grief reactions to the experiences of patients. The most prevalent reaction to grief is to seek a causal answer to the experience in terms of "what" and "why" (Travelbee, 1966, p. 74). Other frequently encountered expressions of grief are the "why me?" reaction, self blame, bafflement, self pity, and acceptance (Travelbee, 1966, pp. 74 77).
Watson's theory of nursing is based on caring by the nurse (Chinn, Jacobs, and Huether, 1991, p. 195). In Watson's theory of nursing, the underlying assumptions are that "(1) care and love comprise the primal and universal psychic energy, and (2) care and love are requisite for our survival and the nourishment of humanity" (Chinn, Jacobs, and Huether, 1991, p. 195).
Watson's (1990, pp. 277 288) theory of nursing posits a holistic conception of mind and body. As posited by Watson's (1990, pp. 277 289) theory, nursing interventions related to human care are referred to as carative factors and include (1) humanistic altruistic system of values, (2) faith hope, (3) sensitivity to self and others, (4) helping trusting human care relationship, (5) expressing positive and negative feelings, (6) creative problem solving caring process, (7) transpersonal teaching learning, (8) supportive, protective, and/or corrective mental, physical, societal, and spiritual environment, (9) human needs assistance, and (1) existential phenonenological spiritual forces.
The issue of grief response by professional nurses in an emergency service environment is not widely covered in the literature. Thus, the literature r...