Spirituality

Question 1

spirituality

Answer 1

Spirituality
* an awareness of one’s inner self and a sense of connection to a higher being, nature, or some purpose greater than oneself.

• An individuals intrinsic spirit seems to be an important factor in healing.
• A person’s inner beliefs and convictions are powerful resources for healing.

Spiritual Distress
* a disruption in the life principle that pervades a person’s entire being and transcends the person’s biologic and psychosocial nature.

Question 2

Spirituality has five distinct overlapping constructs

Answer 2

Self-transcendence
* a sense of authentically connecting to one’s inner self. Transcendence – the belief that a force outside of and greater than the person exists beyond the material world.

Connectedness
* being intrapersonally connected with one’s self, interpersonally connected with others and the environment and transpersonally connected with God or higher power.

Faith
* allows people to have firm beliefs despite lack of physical evidence. Hope- an energizing source that has an orientation to future goals and outcomes.

Inner strength
* source of energy that helps people stay open to change and life challenges, provides confidence in decision-making time and provides a positive outlook. Peace – calm, positive and peaceful feelings.

Meaning and purpose of life
* spirituality helps people find meaning and purpose in both positive and negative life events.

Question 3

Concepts Related to Spirituality

Answer 3

Spiritual Well-being: feelings of contentment coming from the inner self and related to quality of life.

Faith: a confident belief in something for which there is no proof or evidence

Religion: term used to describe a cultural or institutional system of practices

Hope: ingredient in life responsible for a positive outlook

Question 4

Factors influencing Spirituality

Answer 4

Acute Illness
* sudden, unexpected illness often creates spiritual distress

Chronic Illness
* threatens a person’s independence, causing fear, anxiety, and spiritual distress.

Terminal Illness
* causes fear and physical pain, loss of independence, isolation, the unknown, and dying. Affects family and friends also.

Near-Death Experience
* psychological phenomenon of people who have been close to clinical death or have recovered after being declared dead. Experiences rising above the body, watching caregivers, moving toward the light, being pulled into a dark tunnel, no longer afraid of death, reluctant to share experience.

Question 5

Nursing Diagnoses for Spiritual Problems

Answer 5

• Spiritual distress
• At risk for spiritual distress
• Powerlessness
• Hopelessness

Question 6

Patient Goals/Outcomes

Answer 6

Patient will:

• Express feelings of peacefulness
• Report feelings of connectedness with family and/or others
• Initiate social interactions with family and friends
• Participate in spiritual rites and practices

Question 7

Implementing Spiritual Care

Answer 7

• Offering supportive presence
• Promote hope
• Facilitating patient’s practice of religion
• Nurturing spirituality
• Encourage individual spiritual practices that promote meaning and peace.
• During bereavement, encourage life review to promote spiritual well-being and alleviate depression
• Those with chronic illness, encourage patients to attend meaning-centered meditation programs, therapy, or counseling
• Praying with a patient if asked
• Praying for a patient
• Counseling the patient spiritually
• Contacting a spiritual counselor
• Teach individuals how to become aware of attention that is focused on unwanted aspects of life and how to redirect attention towards things that feel more wanted or desired by using a future-directed approach.
• Resolving conflicts between treatment and spiritual activities
• Encourage integration of spirituality in healthy lifestyle choices

Question 8

Facilitating the Practice of Religion

Answer 8

• Familiarize the patient with religious services within the institution.
• Respect the patient’s need for privacy during prayer and/or meditation
• Assist the patient to obtain devotional objects and protect them from loss or damage.
• Encourage and/or coordinate the use of and participation in usual religious rituals or practices that support coping.
• Arrange for the patient to receive sacraments if desired.
• Attempt to meet dietary restrictions.
• Arrange for a priest, minister, religious leader, or rabbi to visit if the patient wishes.
• Encourage listening to religious music.

Question 9

Counseling Patients Spiritually

Answer 9

• Have the patient articulate spiritual beliefs.
• Explore the origin of the patient’s spiritual beliefs and practices.
• Identify life factors that challenge the patient’s spiritual beliefs.
• Explore alternatives when given these challenges.
• Develop spiritual beliefs that meet the need for meaning and purpose, care and relatedness, and forgiveness.

Question 10

Room Preparation for Spiritual Counselor Visit

Answer 10

• Make sure the room is orderly and free of unnecessary equipment.
• Provide a seat for the counselor near the patient’s bed.
• Clear the top of the bedside table and cover with a clean white cloth for sacraments.
• Draw the bed curtains if the patient cannot be moved to a private setting.

Question 11

Evaluating Expected Outcomes

Answer 11

• Identify some spiritual belief that gives meaning and purpose to life.
• Move toward healthy acceptance of the current situation.
• Develop mutually caring relationships.
• Reconcile interpersonal differences causing anguish.
• Verbalize satisfaction with relationship with God.
• Express peaceful acceptance of limitations and failings.
• Express ability to forgive others and live in the present.
• Demonstrate interior state of joy, freedom from anxiety and guilt.