| Spirituality as part of nursing care has been infrequent | | | | stress. Being present at a religious ritual such as |
| and underutilized in the past. Today we have a | | | | anointing of the sick can be important to the dying |
| challenge to embrace a holistic view of life and self to | | | | patient. Other ways of introducing spirituality and |
| incorporate spiritual care into nursing practice. Nurses | | | | health can be undertaken through encouragement of |
| are in the best position to deliver the aspect of | | | | journalling, meditation, scripture reading, prayer, music, |
| spirituality in nursing care, particularly when caring for | | | | art therapy, guided imagery and aromatherapy. |
| the patient with mental, medical and terminal illness. | | | | I have the opportunity to work with both psychiatric |
| Spiritual issues are raised in disbelief and anger, the | | | | and hospice patients. Both can be very challenging |
| nurse helps the patient with their spiritual journey, | | | | especially when the patients are in spiritual distress or |
| searching for meaning and developing a deeper | | | | religiously delusional. I have worked in psychiatry for |
| meaning in faith, hope and love. The nurse assists the | | | | the past ten years and found that spirituality can be |
| patient as a whole being, using holistic nursing. It | | | | easily ignored. Spiritual assessment is part of patient |
| should always be respectful and non-biased. It is | | | | assessment because it can affect the care and |
| about listening, identity, being respected and valued. | | | | treatment of the patient. Asking the patient what |
| Religion involves rituals practices and experiences. It | | | | their religious affiliation is no longer tabooed. It is |
| involves a search for a higher being. It is associated | | | | encouraged that spirituality be part of their treatment |
| with a religious affiliation and religious commitment. | | | | , especially if they are in spiritual distress. |
| Religion may or may not be a part of their spirituality. | | | | Working as a hospice nurse has its great reward |
| Spirituality does not require any religious beliefs, but | | | | which is providing comfort and hope to patients who |
| their exists an affiliation with God or whatever God is | | | | are dying. Being able to sit with the patient, holding |
| perceived to be by that person. | | | | their hands, saying a prayer or rosary is an important |
| What does spirituality mean to me? Being a spiritual | | | | aspect of spiritual care. Being a source of strength |
| and religious person I believe it is an important part | | | | and hope for the patient and family is rewarding. |
| of holistic nursing. Without spirituality it would be hard | | | | Spiritual support provides meaning of hope, love and |
| for the mind and body to heal. It is essential for total | | | | satisfaction in their final days. Reconciliation is also |
| nursing care especially with the dying patient and the | | | | part of spiritual care. Being able to help with these |
| mentally distressed patients. Without spirituality in my | | | | unfulfilled expectations or omissions can be fulfilling. |
| life, it would be an empty and lonely life. Without God | | | | Assuring the patient that they will not die alone and |
| in my life it would be hard to endure daily life | | | | guiding them to the light. |
| problems. | | | | Spirituality provides a means for service providers to |
| Nursing care should be focused on physical and | | | | empower and encourage patients to engage in their |
| psychological needs as well as spiritual. Nurses must | | | | healing process. Spirituality is incorporated with holistic |
| also assess patients' strengths and coping styles, as it | | | | care and is essential to the holistic care of any |
| helps with assessing spirituality. Listening, silence and | | | | patient. We as nurses become a source of spiritual |
| touch are important aspects of spirituality. Touch can | | | | hope for all our patients. |
| demonstrate caring, sense of worth and relieves | | | | |