The use of spirituality in nursing practice

The use of spirituality in nursing practice is not new. However, it is more studied and utilized in a more structured format in nursing.

  1. Identify and discuss tools used to evaluate spirituality

Full Answer Section

   
  • Integration of Spirituality/Religion into Life, Understanding and Theological Issues, Assessment of Life Habits (Puchalski, 2009) - provides more in-depth exploration of various aspects of spirituality.
  • HOPE:How of life is Organized, Outer religious practices, Personal relationship with the sacred, Existential questions, and Ethical/moral dimensions of life (McSherry & Ross, 2005) - focuses on specific dimensions of spirituality.
  • TRUST:Talk openly about your religious or spiritual beliefs, Understand your religious or spiritual needs, Respect your religious or spiritual practices, Support your religious or spiritual needs (Steinhauser et al., 2000) - promotes open communication and respect for patient's needs.
Quantitative tools:
  • FACIT-Sp-12:Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Curlin et al., 2000) - measures overall spiritual well-being along with meaning, peace, faith, and religious support.
  • Duke University Religion Index (DUREL):Assesses religious affiliation, attendance, importance, beliefs, and practices (Koenig et al., 2001).
  • Brief Religious Coping (RCOPE) Questionnaire:Examines how someone uses religious beliefs and practices to cope with stress (Pargament, 1998).
Factors to consider when choosing a tool:
  • Patient population:Choose a tool appropriate for the patient's age, culture, and religious background.
  • Purpose of assessment:Select a tool that aligns with your specific goals for spiritual assessment.
  • Ease of use and time constraints:Consider the complexity of the tool and the time you have available.
  • Patient's preference:Involve the patient in selecting a tool they feel comfortable with.
Remember, there's no "one size fits all" approach. Be mindful of the limitations of these tools and use them alongside open communication and active listening to gain a deeper understanding of your patient's spiritual needs.  

Sample Answer

   

You're right, incorporating spirituality into nursing practice is gaining more traction and structure. Evaluating a patient's spiritual needs is an important component of holistic care. Here are some tools used to do so:

Qualitative tools:

  • FICA: Faith, Importance, Community, Assessment (Jameton, 1984) - asks open-ended questions about faith, spiritual beliefs, importance of spirituality in life, involvement in religious or spiritual communities, and spiritual distress.
  • SPIRITUAL: Signs of Spiritual Distress, Personal Exploration of Religious Issues,