Spirt In Nursing

”One of the greatest challenges of a nurse is to find comfort for patients” (Yousefi & Ali Abedi, 201). Patients feel discomfort that goes far beyond physical pain as that felt after a surgical procedure or an injury. Distress experienced by a patient as a result of any number of things can impair healing, increase mortality, and lead to poor outcomes. Treating the patient holistically and having a clear understanding of the relationship between the mind, body and spirt is imperative to meeting the spiritual needs of the patient. Spirituality becomes increasingly important in older adults later in life as they face issues such as chronic illness and their own mortality. Having a deep spiritual connection helps one feel as if their life

In this case, the wife is of the belief and understanding, that her husbands views are, and always have been the same as hers. “When people are challenged by something like a serious illness or loss, they frequently turn to spiritual values to help them cope with or understand their illness or loss” (Puchalski, C, 2001). It is important for the nurse to establish trust and a relationship with the wife also in this scenario to better meet her needs. The nurse may need to consult privately with the hospital clergy, who are trained to deal with such situations and/or the hospitals Ethics team should the paint appear in distress. Education and support will need to be provided to the wife in a respectful manner. Patients and family may question their religious beliefs or a belief in God when a tragedy or serious illness is involved. In a study of women with ovarian cancer and coping by Christina Puchalski (2001), “93% of 108 women cited spiritual beliefs. In addition, 75% of these patients stated that religion had a significant place in their lives, and 49% said they had become more spiritual after their diagnosis”. It is at this time their faith may be tested and have an inherent need to understand “how their current situation

Many of these needs are unconsciously obtained or achieved without much acknowledgment (Eliopoulos, 2014). A nurse at the bedside expresses caring and love simply by attending to the needs of her patients. Most nurses in the field remain in the work they do because it gives them a sense of purpose and meaning; a feeling of making a difference. A strong religious conviction can lead to hopefulness and a feeling of transcendence. Forgiveness and gratitude can be difficult to consistently practice. Many people have the ability to forgive others but are less quick to forgive themselves for failing to meet their own expectations or making what they perceive as a mistake. Nurses are often hardest on themselves as many are perfectionists, believing there is no room for anything less than the highest, quality care. Many caregivers struggle with forgiving themselves for putting the care of their patients ahead of their families and children when working long hours and extra shifts. Gratitude is having thanks and being appreciative. Living in a culture where a lot of emphasis is placed on material possessions can make one lose sight of what is important. It is “easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the negatives” (Eliopoulos, 2014, p.