Running head: SPIRITUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Spiritual Needs Assessment
Debbie Eckert
GCU
Spirituality in Health Care
HLT 310V
Jackie Williamson
April 03, 2012

Spiritual Needs Assessment

In order to assess someone’s spirituality, it is important for the health care provider to have self-awareness of their own spirituality, to be able to address and care for their own spiritual needs, to establish a trusting working relationship with their patient, and allow time to discuss spiritual needs effectively, and thoroughly.

This writer spoke with her husband on this topic, he was chosen because often he has a difficult time sharing his spiritual beliefs and emotions with family members. He was raised to be a strong figure in the household by his grandparents, and also his past work as a police officer has hardened him slightly.

1. Who or what provides you with strength and hope?

My family and friends provide me with strength. Mostly it is my family that moves me to be the best I can be, and live an honest and respectful life, and be a positive role model for my children. My hope often comes from my faith in God, and faith that He never gives us more grief, disappointment, or pain than we can bear.

2. Do you use prayer in your life?

I do use prayer in my life. Although I don’t recite any particular prayers, and cannot remember any verses from the bible from church, God and I have spoken on many occasions.

3. Describe your philosophy of life

My philosophy is simple. I believe in Karma. I live my life telling the truth, being honest, and respectful to others. I don’t steal, I teach my children the same way of life. I believe that there is bad in the world, and sometime, somewhere, someone is always going to do you wrong. This is where Karma steps in. It is not my place to try and change what that bad person has done or said. It is up to a higher power to decide how that will be handled. I have seen many times in my life the saying “what comes around goes around”. I am able to put my head on my pillow at night knowing each day I have tried to live my life the best way I know how, without hurting anyone in the process. In the morning I am able to look at myself in the mirror with no regrets.

4. What do you hope for?

I hope for peace and happiness for my family, but most of all my children. I hope that when my daughter goes away in the fall to college she finds the strength and guidance to make new friends, go down the right path and find happiness in her new endeavor. I hope for my youngest daughter that she always is able to take the high road when she is faced with decisions she has to make. I hope that no matter what road life takes my children on they maintain their belief in God, and continue to use his guidance with ours to help them maneuver throughout life.

5. How has illness affected you and your family?
When my grandfather got sick it was devastating to the family. He was the head of the family, the matriarch to us all. He was such a strong man, not only physically, but emotionally. He was always the one to hold it together for all of us. He was my role model. He died a little while before Grandma did. I think he kept his illness a secret from us because at the time, Grandma just had her throat cancer surgery, and he had to make sure she would pull through it all first. When she came home from the hospital, it was not even two days later that Grandpa fell into a coma with liver failure and died. He must have known it because he told me that I was the head of the household now, and that I had to be strong, and take care of everyone. I think that is why I am the way I am today, almost always stoic, and appear to be strong for everyone. I know my career in police work had a hand in this also, I saw a lot of not so nice stuff on the job, and if you didn’t put up a wall sometimes, it carried home with you. The last thing I wanted to do on those days was to bring work home with me to my family.

6. What aspects of your religion/spirituality would you like me to keep in mind if I were the healthcare provider caring for you?

Keep in mind that although we called ourselves Catholic, we did not go to church or follow any of the religious rules associated with the faith. I received my sacraments as a kid, I was baptized Catholic, and while I was a young child, we even went to church on Sundays with the extended family. As I grew older, church was attended only on religious holidays like Christmas and Easter, and eventually that even stopped. Going to church or practicing Catholicism was not a priority in my life. When my grandparents got older, it became less and less of a priority for them to get to church, and it was also harder for them to get to church physically. I believe they followed in the family’s footsteps in the way they raised me, meaning receiving my sacraments, and being baptized Catholic. It was assumed that everyone would be a Catholic in the family. No one was there to really enforce it when I was young, and I lost interest.
Keep in mind when caring for me that although I may not be a religious person, I am spiritual. I do believe in a higher power, and I believe the way I believe, and no one should pass judgment on me or my family based on the way we believe, or our spirituality. Know that when caring for me, my family is the most important thing in the world to me, and they are the driving force for me to get well. Keep in mind that even though sometimes I appear to be grouchy or cranky, or even a bit short with my answers, it is because I am here in the hospital, being told what to do, and unsure of what is going on. I am anxious and a little afraid which is new to me, and in no way should you take it personally.

Summary, discoveries of findings, barriers

When asked to be interviewed for this assignment, at first my husband was very apprehensive. But, I was able to coerce him into it because of time constraints for this assignment, and he acquiesced. It is hard for John to show his emotions, and open up about his feelings so I know firsthand how hard these questions were for him to answer. As the interview went on, he eased into the session more and more. During the interview process I am totally aware that not only did I learn to see a totally new and different side to my husband, but he also learned how to open up emotionally, and spiritually. I learned that a person can be spiritual even if it does not show outwardly, which I will now realize in my work as a nurse. I learned from this interview because it was so close to home that everyone has their own life stories that have shaped the way they live their lives, and the way they view their own religious beliefs, and spirituality. During this interview, John was able to speak about his children in a completely loving and emotion filled way. It goes without saying how much he loves his family. However, it was very nice witnessing how he expressed it during the interview. I believe this was as much a learning and enlightening experience for John as it was for me.
In the future while performing spiritual assessments on my patient I would recognize that if someone appears to have a quiet demeanor, or does not show emotions readily, I would be more patient about asking questions. I would realize that just because someone shows their emotions differently, does not mean they have no religious or spiritual belief system. The main goal is to allow for patients to open up about their beliefs when they are ready, and on their terms. It is our job to respect their feelings, and to just be there to support and guide them when it is necessary.

References
Joint Commision (2008). Spiritual Assessment. Retrieved April 2, 2012, from http://www.jointcommision.org/standards_information/jcaqdetails.aspx?StandardsFaqId=...
Spiritual Care Special Interest Group (2005). Spiritual Assessment. Overview of what is important to include in a spiritual assessment.. Retrieved April 2, 2012, from http://wwwnew.towson.edu/sct/assessment.htm