...Spirituality in Nursing: Where Do I Fit In? Abstract Spirituality has many definitions. For some it is a belief in a greater power, a sense of being connected with all living things, or the development of values. For others it is the way to find peace and comfort for their lives. Spirituality is an important component of the care provided to patients by health care providers. Before spiritual care can be given the provider must understand the patient’s spiritual needs. However, this is not always possible due to barriers that arise. Spirituality in Nursing: Where Do I Fit In? Spirituality has many definitions. For some it is a belief in a greater power, a sense of being connected with all living things, and the development of values. For others it is the way to find peace and comfort for their lives. Spirituality is often associated with religion, and some say they develop their spirituality through music, art, or by connecting with nature. Others say they find spirituality through acts of compassion and selflessness. One’s religion is different than spirituality (Munoz-Garcia, 2008). Religion is beliefs and behaviors based on religious traditions or denominations. If a nurse does not understand the difference, the patient’s spiritual needs may be neglected. History Spirituality in healthcare dates back to the earliest of times. Some of the earliest images date back to approximately 7,000 years ago. These images portrayed the nourishment and protection...
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...Spiritual Assessment NUR 645E Grand Canyon University April 3, 2013 Abstract Evidence has linked a strong relationship between spirituality and medicine. There is a positive correlation between a patient’s spirituality or religious commitment and health outcomes. A spiritual assessment as a part of a health assessment is a practical step to incorporating patient’s spiritual needs into practice. The FICA Tool and HOPE Questions provide serve to assist clinicians in the spiritual assessment process. By examining the research done using these tools, it has been determined that the FICA Tool is easy to use and provides basic data on a patient’s spirituality. The FICA tool is both reliable and valid. The HOPE Questions are easy to use and provides details on a wide range of aspects related to multicultural beliefs. The HOPE Questions is not supported by research thereby it is not valid or reliable. Key Words: spiritual assessment, FICA Spiritual Assessment Tool, HOPE Questions Spiritual Assessment Taking patients spiritual needs into account is an integral component of providing holistic care. Research has linked positive health outcomes with patients whose spiritual needs have been addressed. However, spirituality is not always considered an important part of a patient’s well-being; leading to spiritual assessments not being completed. To aid in addressing a patients spiritual needs, there are spiritual assessment tools available. Some of the tools available...
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...The Relationship of Spirituality in Hospital Healing Marilou Loisel Grand Canyon University Spirituality in Health Care HLT 310V Dr. Friederike Doak August 26, 2012 The Relationship of Spirituality in Hospital Healing This paper is going to explore the challenges encountered by medical institutions that incorporate an integrated approach of spirituality toward the healing process of an individual. In today's economic struggle, healthcare is having to face different challenges, including expensive new advancement in technology, new governmental regulations, and expensive new medicines. As the health care industry obviously deals with patients that are sick or dying, they may want to be compassionate, but they have to deal with everything that affects the institution's bottom line. There is a daring new approach that allows the health care industry to help patients with their suffering in an environment that is patient centered, loving, caring and compassionate. This new approach, called a Radical Loving Care, makes it conducive for every patient, and every employee to feel comfortable and valued. Because the focus is to care for the caregivers, they in turn do extraordinary patient care (Eberst, 2008). It is a win-win situation, because it promotes a healthy environment without affecting the bottom line. Unfortunately, this daring approach is not the normal practice of every hospital. Mercy Gilbert Medical Center (MGMC) was built in 2006, with a vision of creating...
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...is the meaning of spirituality. Spirituality is a force that provides a person with intrinsic energy that promotes and enhances their well-being. It also helps a person achieve the balance needed to cultivate a positive life and to cope with everyday life stressors (Potter & Perry, 2009). Florence Nightingale believed that spirituality within a healing hospital environment, and caring for an individual’s spiritual needs is just as important as caring for their physical needs (Potter & Perry, 2009). Spiritual assessment is defined as the process from which health care providers identify a patient’s spiritual needs related to their mental health care (Spiritual Competency Resource Center, n.d.). In 2005, as evidence-based research demonstrated a correlation between supporting a patient’s spirituality with their health and their ability to cope with an illness, The Joint Commission (TJC) announced the requirement for health care organizations to include “a spiritual assessment as part of the overall assessment of a patient to determine how the patient’s spiritual outlook can affect his or her care, treatment, and services.” (p. 1). Patients deserve the best holistic care from health care providers, and it is through a spiritual assessment upon admission that providers will be guided to providing such care. Introduction And Spiritual Assessment Interview This author recognizes that a spiritual assessment tool is a powerful mechanism that will allow a health care provider gain insight...
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...yReflection: Spirituality This reflection will follow Gibbs (1988) ‘learn by doing’ model to give an account of a personal experience that was faced during a practice placement. Spirituality has been chosen as the topic to reflect upon after the student (the author) was encouraged to address questions about the spiritual part of care, in which positive practice was felt. The incident in question involved a female patient who was suffering with severe depression following a traumatic event several years prior. A pseudonym will be used for the patient throughout this reflection to ensure confidentiality is maintained, and in compliance to the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (2008) code. Difficult or traumatic events in a persons’ life may lead to questions about why something is happening or why something happens at all. Spirituality or looking for meaning in life is a personal thing that often becomes more important in times of emotional distress, physical and mental illness, loss, bereavement and the approach of death. For some people spirituality is a religious belief, but for others spirituality can be a source of inspiration or orientation in life such as appreciating nature (National Health Service, 2012) and (The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2010). Furthermore it has been suggested that often it is not until a crisis or illness occurs that spiritual encounters transpire, in addition to physical and emotional experiences because the illusion of security is shattered...
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...Healing Hospital: A Daring Paradigm Jolly Joseph Grand Canyon University HLT-310V Spirituality in Health Care Professor: Patricia Mullen 11/06/2011 Healing is the process of restoring the wellness. It can also refer as curing or soundness. While healing process is underway, the person who gets healed is achieving a spiritual totality. Healing takes place when a person becomes ill. During this restoring process, the illness is completely eradicated and allows the patient to gain maximum health before the illness. Healing is required for those who are suffering from serious illness. Healing is the way to obtain wellness and restoration of spirituality. Eric Chapman, who is the chief executive officer of the Baptist Healing Trust in Tennessee, Nashville suggest a healing hospital, which is capable of healing the illness and restore the spirituality and emotional elements of one’s life (Chapman, 2007). Advancement in technology, physical facility design, and culture also played a big role in the healing hospital. A healing hospital has many vital components and these components of a healing hospital are related to the spirituality. According to the author of Radical loving care: Building the healing hospital in America, a healing hospital has three key components they are healing physical environment, the integration of work design and technology, and culture of radical loving care (Chapman, 2007). In addition, there are several challenges of creating a healing...
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...Spiritual needs Assessment Punnackal house Jolly Grand Canyon University Spirituality in Health care HLT-310V May 1, 2011 Spiritual needs Assessment Spirituality is a sensitive subject, and not everyone is open to discussing one’s beliefs. How well a patient discusses their spirituality is somewhat dependent on the nurse. A caring empathetic nurse is more likely to develop and maintain a holistic rapport and trust with patient. However, their involvement is essential in promoting spiritual health among patients. The difficulty nurses face in implementing spiritual care with patients starts with their incorrect interpretation of the concept of spirituality. Spirituality is defined as an experience that a person has had that gives purpose and meaning to life and death; it may or may not include relationships with God, or other divine power. The key emphasis on a spiritual assessment is to be able to obtain patient information regarding spiritual health in order to plan nursing care. . Individualized plan of care and increased interaction with patients will make a great impact on patient’s care which will increase the self-esteem of the patient, and allow them to return to productive life style. “Meeting patients’ spiritual needs” is a medical professional duty as defined by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (Bensing, 2000). In 2001 JCAHO revised its accrediting standards and it is mandatory to do the spiritual assessment of...
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...Healing Hospital Environment and their relationship to spirituality Human caring facilitates healing. Healing should be accompanied by love and compassion for the sick persons or their families. Healing is a life-long journey of becoming fully human that involves the totality of our being. It connects our body, mind, emotion, spirit, social and political context, as well as our relationships with others and with the Divine. Healing does not necessarily mean being happy or getting what we think we want out of life; it means growth, often with pain. In the health care field spirituality plays an important role in healing, and to give a sense of well being. Spirituality enables an internal tranquility, a meaning, comfort and hope in everyone’s life. Most humans discover spirituality through religion and religious activity. At the same time, some people attain and relate spirituality through art or music, or a relation with nature or through ethics and principles. Of course, people may have different opinions if we ask whether there is a connection between spirituality and healing. However, since mind, body and spirit are intertwined, the health of any of these factors would influence health of other factors. As a personal concept, spirituality is generally understood in terms of an individual’s attitudes and beliefs related to transcendence or to the non material forces of life and of nature (O’ Brien, 2011, p.5). Spiritual practice relates to a person’s faith and behaviors...
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...Paradigm Anna Hernandez Grand Canyon University Spirituality in Health Care HLT-310V Richard Hudock July 27, 2014 Healing Hospitals: A Daring Paradigm Spirituality and religions, effects on health has become an increasing interest to scientist since the 1980’s. According to Smith (2006), spirituality has gained such a momentum that there are multiple articles and several textbooks on spirituality since the year of 1989. The consensus is developing that spirituality and religion are closely related to physical and psychological health and that spirituality and health are an important focus in nursing research (Smith, 2006). Spirituality, however, has many definitions. The majority accord that, it is defined as the manner by which persons seek meaning in their lives and experience transcendence-connectedness to that which is beyond the self (Smith, 2006, p. 41). Spirituality has two dimensions and is a highly complex concept. There are two components of spirituality that are generally described. The vertical, which describes the transcendent, is the connection between a patients (inner body) or something outside such as, a higher power or the divine (Smith, 2006). The horizontal component relates to the connection between persons. This consists of individual and social support that are, set in, the spiritual context by religious setting and spiritual relationships (Smith, 2006). The American Association of Critical Care Nursing (2006) believe that the patient environment...
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...Paradigm Ruth Casanova Grand Canyon University Spirituality in Health Care HLT 310V March 25, 2012 Healing Hospital: A Healing Hospital: A Daring Paradigm Introduction The healing hospital paradigm is a hospital model that focuses on the recovery and 2 wellness of the patient as a whole. Unlike traditional care models that mainly focus on cures for ailments by way of medications, procedures and other medical interventions, healing hospitals take into consideration the whole person; body, mind and spirit as well as the environment in which they are cared for as an integral part of the healing process. In these hospitals, a holistic and family-centered care approach is crucial. There are 3 major elements that are basic to a healing hospital: a culture of fundamental love, an environment that fosters healing and aids in recovery and finally an integration of technology and an efficient work design to deliver safe and timely care. This paper will present the elements that comprise a healing hospital, the role that spirituality plays in the recovery of health as well as potential challenges that may impede progression towards the future implementation this model of care. Elements of a Healing Hospital A healing hospital is more than the physical building and the grounds that surround it. A healing hospital is a complete entity that is comprised of the patients, their families, and the entire healthcare team. The patient’s care encompasses all aspects of life; these include...
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...Healing: Final Draft Spirituality in Health Care April 28, 2013 Abstract This paper explores healing as it pertains to spirituality in Christianity, Buddhism, Muslim, and Native American Indian faiths to give insight about how diverse various cultures can be. Yet, despite their diversity some underlying concepts within these beliefs share uncanny similarities. Health care providers are well equipped to meet the needs of a diverse population with understanding and acceptance of these faiths and the importance that they hold in peoples’ lives. The Diversity of Spiritual Healing: Final Draft Health care providers today come across a wide variety of different cultures, each having their own set of beliefs and customs. In particular, religious and spiritual beliefs are an important part of many peoples’ lives. Faith often gives people a sense of purpose, and spirituality helps define a person. This makes spirituality an important part of living a healthy life. Because of the importance of spirituality in peoples’ lives and the vital role it plays in health maintenance, health care providers should acknowledge and respect these diverse cultures in our world. If spirituality plays such a vital role in the overall health and wellbeing of an individual then health care workers should have an open-mind and understanding of just how diverse these cultures can be. Exploration of several different faiths – Buddhism, Muslim and Native American spirituality – gives an understanding...
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...Spirituality Assessment Melissa Smith Penn State University Spirituality Assessment Research Here are a few of GWish's primary research efforts: Spirituality and Religion Survey of Medical Students This series of surveys evaluates spirituality and medicine course at the George Washington University Medical School, which is part of the Practice of Medicine (POM) curriculum. The PIs, Dr. Puchalski and Dr. Sean Cleary, conduct annual in-class surveys of each class, which began in 2003 with the class of 2007 to determine the effectiveness of spirituality and medicine curriculum. This study will survey students into their residency and subsequent practice 2001 Survey of U.S. Medical/Osteopathic Schools Drs. Puchalski and Cleary conducted a survey of the curricula in the 144 medical/osteopathic schools in the United States to determine the courses, classes, and topics (required and elective) in spirituality and health. The 85 (59%) respondents reported teaching 155 spirituality/religion courses, an average of 1.8 courses per school. Of the 155 courses, 43% (n=67) were integrated in the curriculum and 57% (n=88) were standalone courses, with the majority of the courses (70%) being required. Followup calls to initial nonrespondents resulted in findings that 101 of the 144 schools have courses in spirituality and health. A similar survey was conducted of medical schools in Canada. Of the 17 medical schools in Canada, 76% responded noting at least one topic related to spirituality...
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...Grand Canyon University HLT-310V Spirituality in Nursing September 28, 2011 Spirituality of a Healing Hospital Spirituality in the healing hospital environment commences with the initial point of contact with the staff. The staff not only includes nurses, patient care technicians, and management, it involves every person who is working within this hospital. The standards must be met to be named a healing hospital, all staff must adhere to a culture which not only serves the patients but serves the community as well. All management must commit to allow their staff the time and provide the resources that are needed to heal the body, the mind and spirit as one. In this paper we will examine the model involved in the concept of a healing hospital and in what way spirituality aids in the assistance to heal a patient from the innermost standpoint. Included in this discussion will show in what manner a healing hospital provides better service and environment to their patients. Components of a Healing Hospital In order to create an environment that will build a solid foundation to promote spirituality in a hospital situation, the staff and management must be cultivated on which features are needed. Spiritual health is defined as “a state of well-being and equilibrium in that part of a person’s essence and existence which transcends the realm of the natural and relates to the ultimate good” (O’Brien, 2003, p.164). Possessing spiritual health helps bring a person happiness and...
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...A Spirituality Assessment Sanda Stanhope Grand Canyon University Spirituality in Health Care HLT 310V Patricia Mullen February 02, 2011 A Spirituality Assessment Spirituality is an imperative component in a patient’s assessment and care that can enhance the quality of life. Acknowledging and supporting a patients’ spirituality can make their health care involvements more encouraging in promoting health, reducing depression, it aids in patients coping with challenging illnesses, and increases the quality of life. Patients do want their health care providers to discuss their spirituality with them. A study found that 40% of patients felt that physicians should discuss pertinent religious issues with their patients, however only 11% of physicians frequently or always did (Maugans, 1991). Assessment Participant One has always worked with the adult population, so to enhance the experience; a fifteen year old female, which has been brought up in the Baptist faith was given a spiritual assessment. Summary of Assessment Findings As with most youth, life consists of the here and now with a philosophy regarding life to be “live life to the fullest without breaking rules”. While there is a true belief in God, family and peers would be sought for support and comfort. Prayer is something best done with family and a familiar pastor, but would be too prickly with a hospital provided clergy. Suffering means to have physical and emotional pain. Instances of emotional were explained...
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...A Healing Hospital’s Spirituality Grand Canyon University August 23, 2015 A Healing Hospital’s Spirituality A healing environment has been a sought after aspect since Nightingale. Today, more and more organizations are using techniques to provide a stress free and healing environments to their facilities. Studies show that a harmonious combination of environmental psychology, sociology, and architecture can reduce stress and promote healing (Zborowsky, 2008). This paper shall discuss the components that make up a healing environment as well as the challenges encountered in creating an environment that promotes healing. Components of a Healing Hospital To begin with, a large focus in creating a healing environment is in stress relief. Contact with nature has been shown to decrease stress and reduce anger (Zborowsky, 2008). Architecturally, facilities create this contact by having large windows that provide views to gardens on the outside. Another component that promotes a healing environment is decreasing noise, and increasing air quality. Studies have shown that poor air quality increase heart rate and blood pressure (Blomkvist, 2005). Other architectural components that can promote healing are private rooms, which can reduce exposure to infection and adaptable rooms that can adapt the different acuity levels allowing the patient to remain in the same room. The importance of single patient rooms has been noted by the Joint Commission following guidelines that require...
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