Religion and Spirituality
According to Ferrell & Coyle (2010), religion and spirituality both fall under the rubric of "experiencing transcendence," (p. 14). The difference between religion and spirituality is in the ways transcendence is codified. Religions offer specific languages and modes of discourse, whereas spirituality remains more nebulous because of the lack of the need to share or express ideas with others. Religion has a social function, and can even be conceived of as a means of social control. As a sociological phenomenon, religion serves a totally different purpose and function in a person's life. Spirituality is more of a psychological than a sociological phenomenon, but unlike religion, has no bearing on community. As Judy Labonte states in her blog post, spirituality is much "broader" than religion, and it is important that nurses working in palliative care be sensitive to the personal beliefs of people, even when those beliefs do not fit neatly into a religious rubric. Just because a person does not identify with being Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or any other organized religion, it does not mean that the individual denies some type of "transcendence," as Ferrell & Coyle (2010) put it or, as Matzo & Sherman (2015) put it, the need to heal and be "whole," (cited by Labonte, 2015).
I appreciate the way Labonte analyzed the difference...
It brought continuity to the process of dying, and a way to deal with critical issues in a way everyone could understand. it's holistic because it takes the process of dying, coordinates the patient's care, and brings resolution to things often left unstated. It allows the patient to have a degree of control. And it evaporates some of the high-tech coldness that can come between caregivers and patients." The most
In addition to lecture-based introduction to religious differences, video and/or live presentations from religious leaders and clergy from different faiths and role play exercises, the proposed implementation of training in this area should also include presentations from more experienced nurses who have already successfully negotiated the delicate issues involved. Conclusion: Spiritual support undoubtedly provides measurable benefits in the hospital environment where it is well received by patients. In American society, religious
The nursing professional must be adept at dealing with these kinds of conversations, and without increasing the guilt that the family member or patient might be experiencing, and keeping in mind the patient's probable depression; it is the responsibility of the nursing professional to take the conversation back to the treatment and therapies that within the realm of the legal and ethical practices in delivering medical nursing care. Jacquie Peden,
ethical hospice care is that it must be founded upon honesty. "Frank discussions about death and dying, clarifying knowledge of the underlying illness and knowledge of the dying process" is essential (Guido 2010: 35). However, this must be balanced with the patient's desire for confidentiality and his right to die in a way which honors his wishes. In this instance, a private and confidential discussion with Mr. West is
medical professionals, nurses as a group come closest to the ideal of treating the whole patient, addressing physical, emotional, psychological and even social concerns. This is especially true of psychiatric nurses who work to help patients address both the physical and cognitive symptoms of their conditions as well as to come to terms with the stigma attached to having a mental illness - a stigma that often is applied
Life Care End-of-life care may be one of the most difficult aspects of healthcare services. After all, the goal of most healthcare providers is to heal, and providing end-of-life requires a shift in perspective. One of the challenges in planning end-of-life care is that many healthcare providers are simply not comfortable discussing end-of-life (Detering et al. 2014). Fortunately, when providers take targeted classes with the goal of improving their ability
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