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Spiritual Need Assessment Spirituality Can Essay

Significant Discoveries

The discoveries I made about my friend were enlightening. I already knew she did not attend religious services and that she was agnostic, as this had been information that was the basis for many friendly debates in our social circle. I understood her sense of hope and her ability to find joy in her children's joy and learning. I was however not aware that all of her family was distant in either place or spirit and that she therefore had to rely heavily on her husband's family for support, and this she finds troubling as she does not wish to be a burden and she feels like a bit of an outsider. Her illness also seems to have added stress to the situation because she has had to rely heavily on her husband and his family to care for their young children. I also thought the information about earplugs and silence was extremely critical in the hospital setting and I would make sure that she had plenty of quiet time in my care and even make sure the nurses provided earplugs for her if she is hospitalized.

What Went Well/What I would Change

I had the opportunity to offer the subject this survey in her home, during naptime so situational barriers were limited. I do know that if I were offering this assessment in a clinical setting it would be important to make sure the individual had plenty of time, was alone and was as comfortable as possible.

Barriers

Initially my friend had concerns regarding both the personal nature of "spiritual" questions and her ideation that spirituality would be religious in context and lastly that the experience would involve some sort of judgment. The introduction I wrote to the spiritual assessment, above addressed her concerns and...

I found it very comforting to know that I had expressed to her through my assessment tool a desire to know her better and allow her to think about how these issues might affect her in her care during her period of illness. The tool allowed me far greater insight about the subject's desire for silence, which can be a clinical challenge but is completely surmountable, though I would definitely not have known about it had I not provided this assessment.
Conclusion

Developing this tool and applying it to a real person also offered me insight about my subjects feelings of isolation and it will help me aide her by making sure I am present if she has a need and would also help me support her family (husband and inlaws) to help them function and manage care of the children so the subject will be more at ease in her position of illness and vulnerability. All of these issues would be applicable to the clinical setting, as guidance for families in crisis as well as holistic guidance for patients fall well within the scope of the nursing practice.

References

Edlin, G. Golanty, E. McCormack Brown, K. (2000) Essentials for health and wellness. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Joint Commission (2008) Standards FAQ details: spiritual assessment. Retrieved from http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/jcfaqdetails.aspx?StandardsFaqId=290&ProgramId=1

Phillip, R. (2006) Reflections on spirituality and health. By Stephen G. Wright. (book review) Occupational Medicine 56 (8): 585. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kql093

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References

Edlin, G. Golanty, E. McCormack Brown, K. (2000) Essentials for health and wellness. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Joint Commission (2008) Standards FAQ details: spiritual assessment. Retrieved from http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/jcfaqdetails.aspx?StandardsFaqId=290&ProgramId=1

Phillip, R. (2006) Reflections on spirituality and health. By Stephen G. Wright. (book review) Occupational Medicine 56 (8): 585. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kql093
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