spirituality (1 question)agnostic

Hope is

the ingredient in life responsible for a positive outlook, even in life's bleakest moments. It enables a person both to consider a future and to work to actively bring that future into being.

Among the many factors that can influence a person's spirituality

the most important are developmental considerations, family, ethnic background, formal religion, and life events.

Three spiritual needs underlie all religious traditions and are common to all people

(1) need for meaning and purpose, (2) need for love and relatedness, and (3) need for forgiveness.

faith:

(1) spiritual dimensions of a person's life regardless of religious affiliation; (2) confident belief in something for which there is no proof or material evidence

The nurse working with a patient and family to achieve specified goals or outcomes to meet spiritual needs should evaluate

the care plan in each patient interaction. Necessary to the evaluation are sensitivity to what the patient is saying and not saying, and observation of the patient when alone as well as when interacting with the family and nurses.

More dialogue is needed on the interaction between religion and law, ethics, and medicine.

Ideally, the religious freedom of patients and their families is respected, as is the moral autonomy of caregivers and the integrity of the healing professions. Nurses in these situations should seek the assistance of the ethics committee or ethics consultation service.

Never presume to know what a patient's religious beliefs or practices are just because you learn a patient's faith tradition.

Many religious groups and individuals work out their own sets of beliefs and practices, which may or may not be compatible with the tradition at large. Also, do not interpret the fact that a patient does not belong to an organized religion to mean that the patient has no spiritual needs; a person may be deeply spiritual yet not profess to belong to an organized religion.

integral to holistic care.

Paying attention to the spiritual dimension of health and well-being

The NANDA International diagnoses related specifically to spirituality are

Readiness for Enhanced Hope, Hopelessness, Readiness for Enhanced Spiritual Well-being, Impaired Religiosity (or Risk for Impaired Religiosity), Readiness for Enhanced Religiosity, and Spiritual Distress.

Sometimes religious beliefs conflict with prevalent health care practices

Whatever the person's decision about health care, remember that each person is unique and has a right to pursue his or her own convictions, even though they may differ from those of the health care provider.

The term faith generally refers to

a confident belief in something for which there is no proof or material evidence. It can involve a person, idea, or thing, and is usually followed by action related to the ideals or values of that belief. Faith is also used to describe a cultural or institutional religion, such as Judaism, Islam, or Confucianism.

Parish nurse programs are

a movement in faith communities from many denominations. They seek to reclaim the church's role in the ministry of healing and focus again on the impact that spirituality, caring relationships, and a responsibly balanced life can have on health and wellness.

spiritual distress:

an alteration in spiritual health (e.g., spiritual pain, alienation, anxiety, guilt, anger, loss, despair)

Because a person's spirituality and religious beliefs can influence every aspect of being

an assessment of the patient's spirituality—including beliefs and practices, the effect of these beliefs on everyday living, spiritual distress, and spiritual needs—should be included in each comprehensive nursing history.

spirituality:

anything that pertains to a person's relationship with a nonmaterial life force or higher power

Spirituality is

anything that pertains to a person's relationship with a nonmaterial life force or higher power. While one person describes spirituality in terms of coming to know, love, and serve God, another speaks of transcending the limits of body and experiencing a universal energy.

spiritual health:

condition that exists when the universal spiritual needs for meaning and purpose, love and belonging, and forgiveness are met

Love develops

from the basic human need to love and be loved; we cannot be spiritually whole or spiritually healthy unless this need is met.

Spirituality and faith may include

include religion, which refers to an organized system of beliefs about a higher power characterized by set forms of worship, spiritual practices, and codes of conduct. Nurses care for people from many different religious traditions.

hope:

ingredient in life responsible for a positive outlook, even in life's bleakest moments

An atheist is

is a person who denies the existence of a higher power; an agnostic is one who holds that nothing can be known about the existence of a higher power. Atheists and agnostics deserve respect for what they choose to believe, just as do those who accept a particular religious creed.

spiritual needs:

lack of anything necessary for spiritual health (e.g., meaning and purpose, love and relatedness, forgiveness)

Religious influences may

may be life affirming or life denying. Life-affirming influences enhance life, give meaning and purpose to existence, strengthen a person's feelings of self-worth, encourage self-actualization, and are health giving and life sustaining. Life-denying influences restrict or enclose life patterns, limit experiences and associations, place burdens of guilt on people, encourage feelings of unworthiness, and are generally health denying and life inhibiting.

spiritual healing:

movement toward integration, from brokenness to wholeness

Spiritual beliefs are

of special importance to nurses because of the many ways they can influence a patient's level of health, sense of well-being, and self-care behaviors.

religion:

organized system of beliefs about a higher power; often includes set forms of worship, spiritual practices, and codes of conduct

agnostic

person who believes that nothing can be known about the existence of a god

atheist:

person who denies the existence of a god

spiritual beliefs:

practices associated with all aspects of a person's life, including health and illness, that address the invisible "spirit"—a creative, mysterious, guiding power

Before exploring spiritual care strategies

remind yourself of the importance of discussing spiritual concerns in a respectful manner and as directed by patients. It is never acceptable to proselytize (to try to convert others to your own religion) in professional settings.

Nurses can assist patients to meet

spiritual needs by offering a compassionate presence; assisting in the struggle to find meaning and purpose in the face of suffering, illness, and death; fostering relationships (with a higher being/humans) that nurture the spirit; and facilitating the patient's expression of religious or spiritual beliefs and practices.

presencing:

standing in the presence of another consciously believing in—and affirming—his or her capacity for wholeness

Nurses may find themselves in situations in which

their professional or institutional responsibilities involve participation in activities such as abortion, assisted suicide, and counseling about birth control that may violate their personal integrity. Nurses should therefore ensure that they can fulfill the responsibilities of jobs they assume or that they are free to exercise the right of conscientious objection. As legislation addressing these conflicts is in a state of flux, you should be familiar with federal and state guidelines.

Many nurses who describe themselves as professional healers use the terms

vocation or calling to describe the work of nursing. They claim to be "standing on holy ground" when they create that hospitable place where patients can expose their vulnerabilities and face their biggest concerns.