...Aims. This paper is a report of a methodological review conducted to analyse, evaluate and synthesize the rigour of measures found in nursing and health-related literature used to assess and evaluate patient spirituality as more than religiosity. Background. Holistic healthcare practitioners recognize important distinctions exist about what constitutes spiritual care needs and preferences and what constitutes religious care needs and preferences in patient care practice. Data sources. Databases searched, limited to the years 1982 and 2009, included AMED, Alt Health Watch, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCO Host, EBSCO Host Religion and Philosophy, ERIC, Google Scholar, HAPI, HUBNET, IngentaConnect, Mental Measurements Yearbook Online, Ovid MEDLINE, Social Work Abstracts and Hill and Hood's Measures of Religiosity text. Review methods. A methodological review was carried out. Measures assessing spirituality as more than religiosity were critically reviewed including quality appraisal, relevant data extraction and a narrative synthesis of findings. Results. Ten measures fitting inclusion criteria were included in the review. Despite agreement among nursing and health-related disciplines that spirituality and religiosity are distinct and diverse concepts, the concept of spirituality was often used interchangeably with the concept religion to assess and evaluate patient spirituality. The term spiritual or spirituality was used in a preponderance of items to assess or evaluate...
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...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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...Running Head: COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS Concept Comparison and Analysis Across Theories Paper on Spirituality University of Phoenix Online Developing and Evaluating Educational Programs (NUR/588) Dr. Amy McClune 4 June 2007 Concept Comparison and Analysis Across Theories Paper on Spirituality Spirituality in nursing and medicine has been a conflicting topic because many things have occurred which cannot be explained or proven through scientific experimentation. The only plausible explanation that has been given points to a higher power or being. Florence Nightingale believed she had a calling from God to do her work in nursing not only to physically heal but spiritually heal as well. On the other hand, Dr. Larry Dossey felt medicine alone could not heal and it is the responsibility of the physician to invoke the “power of prayer” to assist with a patient’s healing process. During the mid-nineteenth century, optimism ran high in England. With the rise of empiricism, in which all knowledge is derived from experience, science blossomed and gave rise to high hopes for conquering drudgery and disease. Florence Nightingale went to Crimea and by applying good principles of sanitation, she made a major difference in the death rate of British soldiers – from 42% to 2% (Shelly & Miller, 1999). During this time Florence Nightingale observed that the common people in her day were becoming atheists and losing their basis for ethical...
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...Healing Hospital Rhonda Hofstrom Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V Spirituality In Nursing Instructor: Jeney Park-Hearn January 16, 2015 Healing hospital is a new paradigm in healthcare it is no longer just about treating the disease or diagnosis, there is a new push to heal the person’s spiritual well-being also. Puchaski & McShimming (2006) say that spirituality is what supports a person enabling them to cope with the challenges and stresses of everyday life (as cited in Dunn, 2010). If healthcare is able to heal the human spirit, healing of the body should follow. This paper will explore the concept of a healing environment, how spirituality plays a part, and the challenges that come about when changing the environment from being disconnected disease treatment focused to patient focused. Healing Hospital Make-Up and Spirituality’s Involvement Healing hospitals are composed of a healing physical environment, an efficient work environment with advanced technology and a principle of “Radical loving care” (Eberst, 2008). If nurses are “healing instruments”, then their own spiritual well-being must be important in order to be able to be positive presence while caring for the patient (Dunn, 2010). The primary focus is on the healing and well-being of the individual patient, with care being provided in a quieter environment, encouraging well-ness within the “whole” individual and decreasing the stressors that are found within...
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...Nursing 243 Assignment: Cultural and Spiritual Assessment Cultural and Spiritual Assessment Transcultural nursing and culturally congruent care are important ideas of today’s nursing, especially in North America. In order to give a culturally congruent care, the nurse should do a cultural assessment; a good cultural assessment will reveal the invisible part of a culture. According to Potter and Perry (2009), “It is important to understand that the invisible value-belief system of a particular culture is often the major driving force behind visible practices” (p. 107). Cultural and spiritual assessment paper gives me a chance to look at my own culture. “Becoming culturally competent first requires you to examine your feelings and experiences regarding diversity, starting with an understanding of your own heritage. Then, you will need to learn more about specific cultural differences so you can develop an appreciation for the values and beliefs of both patients and staff co-workers” (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2010, p. 28). As far as mental health patients, it is an absolute necessary to understand the client’s culture since it has a very big influence on their wellness state. If a healthcare provider does not consider the client’s culture, it will cause lots of trouble and pain for the client. “Clients suffer cultural pain when health care providers disregard their valued way of life” (Potter & Perry, 2009, p. 113). Spirituality has an important role...
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...Assessment Tool Analysis Paper Assessment is the first and most important element of the nursing process. Assessment tools are not merely designed to measure the physical nature of the illness. They can also measure the psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional well-being of the patient. Watson felt that addressing the patient's mind, body and spirit can promote health and individual or family growth. She felt that nursing was distinctive through the science of caring and medicine involved curing (Suliman, Welmann, Omer & Thomas, 2009). In this paper I will be discussing three assessment tools that can be used by nurses to verify better, organize, and interpret a patient's emotional and spiritual well-being. I will describe the purpose of each tool and the population it might be useful. I will give data such as; cost, length of time to complete, ease of using and intended population. I will also describe how this tool enhances the assessment phase of the nursing process and the quality of care delivered by the nurse. Lastly, I will apply these tools to the vulnerable older population chosen from my Self Awareness paper. The three assessment tools that I selected were: The Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Derogatis Stress Profile, and the Perceived Stress Scale. The Spiritual Well-Being Scale This Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) is an easy assessment tool, designed for adults to self-assess their perceived spiritual well-being. There are twenty questions answered by paper and pencil that...
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...different worldview and varying faith background. To some individual’s, religion plays a very important role in their daily lives, while to others it may not seem to play a very big role. Newsweek (2009) polls since 1992 show religion is fairly to very important in the lives of 85% of people (as cited in Ashcraft, Anthony, & Mancuso, 2010). Numbers this high show that religion plays a major role to many and with that healthcare providers need to be aware of their own beliefs, while maintaining a respectful and supportive environment for the patients they are caring for and their beliefs. Patients along with nurses often look to their faith when in times of stress and illness. This paper will discuss the Native American spirituality philosophy compared to the Christian philosophy. Native American Spirituality According to the United States census (2000) “4.3 million people (1.5% of the total United States population) self-identified as American Indian or Alaska Native (as cited in Hubbert, 2008). Native American healing practices may include traditional healers such as medicine men and women, herbalists, and shaman who work to return the individual to optimal health. Rituals of healing and purification ceremonies, sand painting, spiritual chants, dancing, therapeutic sings, along with special herbs, teas, foods and activities may be participated in (Braswell & Wong, 1994). Their perspective is healing should be a combination of both the spiritual and the physical. Lacking an understanding...
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...M5A1: Critical Analysis of “Spirituality as a Predictive Factor for Signing an Organ Donor Card” a Quantitative Research Study NUR 430 Excelsior College Abstract This paper is a critical analysis of the article “Spirituality as a Predictive Factor for Signing an Organ Donor Card”. The research was preformed by Anat Peles Bortz, RN, PhD, Tamar Ashkenazi, RN,PhD, and Semyon Melnikov, RN, PhD. The research was accepted for publication in 2014. The research was presented at the 25th International Nursing Research Congress Symposium in 2014 in Hong Kong. The research appears in Sigma Theta Tau International, Journal of Nursing Scholarship 2015. The research looked at two groups of people in Israel, those who signed an organ donor card and those who did not. The research examined differences of spirituality, purpose in life, and attitudes toward organ donation and explored the effects on signing an organ donation card. The article contains the research purpose, design, methodology, statistical findings, conclusions, clinical relevance, and references. Analysis of the article is from the perspective of its contents and it relative quantitative research methods. The article/research is broadly based on spirituality and organ donor procurement. Keywords: spirituality, purpose in life, attitudes toward organ donation, organ donor card “Spirituality as a Predictive Factor for Signing an Organ Donor Card” A Quantitative Research Study Quantitative Research ...
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...Spiritual Needs Assessment The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the spiritual needs of a chosen person by completing a spiritual assessment. In doing so, a greater knowledge of their beliefs was gained and things that can be done to improve outcomes were determined. Spirituality and religion are often thought to be the same and are often interchangeable. Religion is a belief system with rituals and practices that one adheres to in searching for a higher being. Spirituality is not a religion that holds us to a set of rules or traditions; It is not attainted through human worthiness; It is about a relationship that God offers us, an eternal life with him (All About Spirituality, 2012). The majority of patients that nurses care for have religious beliefs and traditions when it comes to their health, which in turn leads to spiritual needs. Their beliefs may affect the way they want to be cared for and may also hinder the care needed, such as treatments, procedures and medications. Spirituality is a way that we all search for meaning within and through that comes peace, hope, comfort and love. When assessing ones spirituality, you are also finding out their strengths and ways in which they cope. Listening, silence and touch are important aspects of spirituality, as these demonstrate caring, sense of worth and can relieve stress (Ojnik, 2009). For this paper my father-in-law (J.C.) was interviewed and five questions were asked. J.C. is 65 years old, is...
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...Hospitals: A Daring Paradigm Kimberly Howell Grand Canyon University Foundations of Spirituality in Health Care HLT-310-0101 October 13, 2012 Healing Hospitals: A Daring Paradigm The healing hospital paradigm is a hospital model that focuses on the recovery and wellness of patients as a whole. Unlike other hospital settings this one focuses on the person as a whole body, mind, and spirit. Also included in the paradigm is the setting of the aesthetics of the hospital, which include things like being pleasing to the eye and the noise level of the facility. This paper will present the components of a healing hospital and the role spirituality plays in the recovery. It also will include the challenges faced while trying to provide a healing environment. Nurses today are being mandated by professional and regulating organizations (American Holistic Nurses’ Association 2005, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health-care Organizations 2005) to incorporate spiritual assessment and interventions into their practice (Miner-Williams, 2006). In order to do this there must be a definition or an explanation of what spirituality is. Spirituality can‘t be wrapped up in a definition; it is the human part of humanistic. It consists of compassion, safety, trust, respect, support and creating positive outcomes in people’s lives and health. (Ashcraft 2010). Laura Mancuso stated, “Spirituality is highly personal, very central to a person’s inner life, and oftentimes inseparable from...
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...Hospital: A Daring Paradigm Marti Manko Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V 06/16/2013 Traditionally, western medicine, religion and spirituality have always been connected. Recently, faith-based influences on medical practice have been developed to reflect the importance of acknowledging that spirituality and religion are an integral part of healing (Galanter, Glickman, Dermatis, Tracy and McMahon, 2008). The term “healing” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “haelen”, meaning “to make whole”. One method of comprehending this term is to think of a harmonious blend of mind, body and spirit (Zborowsky and Kreitzer, 2008). The human spirit is what strengthens an individual and what enhances healthy coping mechanisms when an individual encounters stressors, challenges or illness (Dunn, 2010). Many patients possess spiritual feelings and beliefs related to their capability to cope with illness. Acknowledging patients’ spiritual necessities in the healthcare environment fosters satisfaction with caregivers and increased compliance with care plans (Galanter, Glickman, Dermatis, Tracy and McMahon, 2008). Healing differs from curing, which implies problem solving, eliminating disease and diminishing symptoms (Zborowsky and Kreitzer, 2008). The purpose of this paper will define the components of healing hospitals in relationship to spirituality, challenges of creating a healing environment and a biblical passage that supports the healing hospital concept. The healthcare industry...
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...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 include the FICA Spiritual History Tool and the HOPE Questions. This paper aims to examine the above mentioned...
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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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...energy that can be manipulated to restore balance. The Christian worldview believes that we have been created by God in his image (Shelly & Miller, 2006). Spirituality, religion and personal beliefs surrounding worldview questions, can all impact healthcare today. This paper will discuss the meaning of spirituality in the context of healthcare and the questions relating to individual worldviews. Meanings of Spirituality Spirituality can mean different things to different people. It can be the exploratory component of religion (Borg, 2013). There are some who will say that spirituality is meditation, being in tune with nature or talking to spirits, others will say that spirituality is being linked with something greater than them. This often involves seeking for the meaning of life. It can also be said that true spirituality comes from the Holy Spirit of God. As a result the person experiences emotions such as: love; joy; peace; kindness; goodness; faithfulness; gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). The importance of spirituality is that it shows people that there is more out there than our life on earth. Sociological Perspectives The spiritual and religious world has changed in recent years. Fewer people go to church and more consider themselves to be spiritual rather than religious (Lorimer, 2014). Spirituality can be linked with thoughts and emotions such as: love and compassion; forgiveness and...
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...and Faith Diversity: First Draft “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred” (Pulchalski & Ferrell, 2009). INTRODUCTION It is important for the professional nurse to recognize the unique spiritual beliefs and individuality of each patient and family who enters the hospital setting. Nurses have a great opportunity to facilitate their patient’s complex spiritual and religious needs in the face of crisis. Fulfilling these needs has a highly influential impact on patient outcomes and can increase the patient’s ability cope with their human circumstances. The importance of the patient’s belief system should not be underestimated, and the beliefs of the nurse should never be imposed on a patient, especially during such a vulnerable time as this. If the nurse maintains a level of respect for the patient that transcends their own ideology, they can honor and promote the dignity of the patient. This paper reviews some of the basic Christian beliefs in comparison to three other religions with respect to illness, its meaning, cause, treatment and outcome for the hospitalized patient. In commitment to providing patients with relationship-centered care, this author closes the paper with a summary of her own personal beliefs related to spirituality and health care. No individual...
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