Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

A client experiencing multiple recent losses may suffer from which condition?

1. Isolation

2. Inhibited grief

3. Depressive grief

4. Bereavement overload

The correct answer is: Bereavement overload

The condition that a client experiencing multiple recent losses may suffer from is bereavement overload. This term refers to the overwhelming feelings of grief that can occur when an individual faces multiple losses in a relatively short period. When someone experiences numerous losses, the emotional and psychological impact of each loss can compound, leading to an intense and often debilitating state of grief that can be difficult to process. Bereavement overload illustrates the cumulative nature of grief, emphasizing the challenges faced when an individual has no opportunity to fully grieve one loss before encountering another. This can hinder emotional healing and may result in various symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and symptoms related to complicated grief. It reflects the necessity for supportive measures and interventions for someone in this situation to help navigate their feelings and foster healing, as they may be struggling to manage their grief effectively. The other choices, while related to grief and loss, do not encapsulate the concept of facing multiple losses in a way that underscores the cumulative impact on the individual. Isolation addresses feelings of being alone, while inhibited and depressive grief focus on the expression and experience of grief itself but do not specifically relate to the scenario of multiple losses occurring concurrently.