The document discusses loss, grief, death and caring for dying patients and the deceased. It covers:
1. Types of loss including actual, perceived, anticipatory, situational and developmental.
2. Grief responses including normal, abbreviated, anticipatory, disenfranchised and unhealthy/complicated grief.
3. Ways to help dying patients meet physiological, spiritual and emotional needs including comfort care, pain management, spiritual/religious support and providing empathy.
4. Changes that occur after death like rigor mortis, algor mortis, livor mortis and tissue breakdown. Care of the deceased's body is also addressed.