Grieving a Personal Loss

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to uncover the structure of the lived experience of grieving a personal loss using Parse's research methodology. The nursing perspective for this study is that of Parse's theory of nursing. Through dialogical engagement with the researcher, four participants described their experiences of grieving a personal loss. The researcher dwelled with the descriptions and through extraction-synthesis evolved the structure of the lived experience. The structure of the lived experience of grieving a personal loss is intense struggling in the flux of change while a shifting view fosters moving beyond the now as different possibilities surface in dwelling with and apart from the absent presence and others in light of what is cherished. This study enhances the knowledge base on grieving, expands Parse's theory of nursing, and demonstrates the value of Parse's methodology for uncovering the meaning of lived experiences.