ASSIGNMENT:
As a future healthcare worker, you will encounter patients who are nearing end-of-life and those
who will be grieving a loss. It can be difficult to know what to say to a grieving person, so many
times we say nothing at all to avoid a tearful encounter.
This assignment is an opportunity for you to explore the manner in which people grieve; it is not
the same for everyone; there is no “right or wrong” way to grieve. It is a personal journey. You will
also explore your own experiences with loss and discuss your own grief journey as someone you
cared about came to the end of their Life Span.
1. TOPIC: The focus of this assignment is grief and the process of grieving. Choose a situation
that you are familiar with, such as a personal loss of a family member, friend or work
associate. Think about the intense feelings that may have occurred at that time. You will
build your assignment, based on your own experience and information from your textbook
plus at least one other outside source.
2. STYLE: Using APA format, your paper must include a title page and reference page. The
main body of your assignment must be at least two pages.
3. SOURCES:
a. You must select at least one of these articles or sites as a reference.
i.
ii. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/articles/201009/in-loathing-memory
iii. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/raising-grieving-children/201301/learning-language-grief
iv. https://www.caringinfo.org/
v. https://www.miscarriagesupport.org.nz/miscarriage-and-grief/
b. You must also use Polan and Taylor, (2023). Journey Across the Life Span, Human Development and Health Promotion. (7th ed.) as a reference.
c. You may choose another credible reference, a book or article on the topic of grief.
In the face of personal loss, I would like to include these aspects of my personal life:
1. Losing my dear grandfather, Gary, at the tender age of 12 was heartbreaking. He was more than a grandpa; he was like a second father to me. Growing up on his and my grandmother Connie’s farm, I cherished every moment spent with him. Unfortunately, I had to witness his struggle and deterioration due to a 3.5-year battle with kidney disease, coupled with Alzheimer’s. It felt like losing him twice – once to the diseases and then again to death.
2. At 14, I faced another significant loss – the loss of my innocence and the carefree life of a teenager. Sexual assault, an unplanned pregnancy, and becoming a mother at 15 were challenges I never imagined facing at such a young age. These events forced me to grow up too soon and made me feel like I had lost both my childhood and teenhood.
3. Tragically, at 16, I lost my beloved Aunt Teresa. She was the only family member who supported me during my difficult pregnancy, showing love and care for both me and my daughter. I regret not visiting her before she passed away, as my daughter never got the chance to meet her. To honor her memory, I chose to give my second daughter the middle name of my dear aunt.
These personal losses have shaped my life in profound ways, teaching me resilience, empathy, and the importance of cherishing every moment with loved ones.
