Spirituality entails the acknowledgment of a feeling, sensation or belief that there is something greater beyond the ‘self.’ The concept involves something more than the human sensory experience or existence at the biological level. Despite the fact that spirituality is often expressed through sacred rituals, customs, values and practices, I believe that the concept refers to any relationship between an individual and a higher power. In agreement with Bogue and Hogan (2020), spirituality is not necessarily religious. The development of spirituality is acknowledged by some as a vital discipline in facilitating career progression. The belief is based on the fact that spirituality helps build a strong sense of conviction and purpose in people. The spiritual urge to serve others in their time of need or suffering acts as a foundation for many doctors and nurses. While spirituality is an individual journey, it impacts the quality of my patient care, influencing how I communicate and interact with patients and my preference for holistic care.
A caregiver’s worldview heavily determines how he or she interacts with patients and utilizes healthcare systems. As a spiritual caregiver, I must be content with providing equal services to all patients, regardless of class, race, sex, gender or ethnicity. Isaac et al. (2016) advocate for the incorporation of spirituality in the promotion of primary care. I would adopt the concept to develop more patient-centered strategies, such as shared decision-making. Spirituality can equally be used to influence health attitudes and behaviors, such as alcohol consumption and dietary choices. An example is the inclusion of the Chaplaincy to assist patients in making decisions concerning their course of treatment. In another scenario, I would apply Koenig’s (2012) approach to using spirituality to equip patients with a sense of purpose and belief regarding their ability to recover from an ailment. Spirituality can help bring out the positivity required for suitable cognitive and physiological recovery.
References
Bogue, D. & Hogasn, M. (2020). Practicing dignity: An introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care. GCU Media.
Isaac, K. S., Hay, J. L., & Lubetkin, E. I. (2016). Incorporating spirituality in primary care. Journal of Religion and Health, 55(3), 1065–1077. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0190-2
Koenig H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: the research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 12(27). https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730
Peer Responses
Shija Joseph
I found it illuminating and interesting how the post opens up by differentiating the biblical definition of spirituality from a personal one. In agreement, there is a growing body of research and professional acknowledgment that spirituality plays a critical role in promoting health and wellbeing in patients. While I do agree there are diverse benefits to the integration of spirituality into patient care, it is worth noting that spiritual coping strategies are not universal for all patients (Linda et al. 2021). Clinicians and nurses have the responsibility to research and document the patient’s spiritual history to identify the specific customs, values and practices that influence their health attitudes and behaviors. As opposed to relying on the diverse benefits of spirituality in healthcare, focusing on the patient’s specific spiritual needs is key to the provision of high-quality care. All health practitioners should be familiar with spiritual research.
Reference
Linda, N. S., Phetlhu, D. R., & Klopper, H. C. (2021). Clinical supervisors’ understanding of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 14, 100254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2020.100254
Anand Jose
One of the key messages in the post is there is no confined or singular path toward spirituality. People have diverse spiritual needs and beliefs, underpinning the importance of spiritual research in medical practice (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). I do agree that the use of spirituality in patient care has more use in psychological cases, especially trauma. Spirituality can help the patient form a coherent and consistent worldview with a greater sense of trust and hope despite their traumatic experiences. Therefore, it is vital for healthcare practitioners to have worldviews that are consistent, clear and reflective of reality. Another possible scenario spirituality can assist in patient care is in cases of impending death. Several studies highlight a positive link between spirituality and coping with disease and death (Bogue & Hogan, 2020). I would like to know if there are less traumatic and extreme patient cases where spirituality can be integrated, such as a simple case of the flu.
Reference
Bogue, D. & Hogasn, M. (2020). Practicing dignity: An introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care. GCU Media.
Abimbola Osofisan
While the post offers comprehensive definitions of spirituality, it does not sufficiently highlight the ways in which it is integrated into patient care. I do agree that clinicians and nurses have to have a high degree of individual awareness and listen to and observe others to understand their purpose in life, values, rituals and culture. According to Pirkola et al. (2018), spirituality is based on an ethical notion that people act to serve and maintain each other’s best interests. Therefore, understanding a patient’s spirituality is imperative in addressing their well-being. There are several ways that a nurse can use to learn about the patient’s spirituality, including inviting the Chaplaincy and family members or using self-reported questionnaires. Achieving holistic care is improbable without a sufficient understanding of the patient’s spirituality.
Reference
Pirkola, H., Rantakokko, P., & Suhonen, M. (2018). Workplace spirituality in health care: an integrated review of the literature. Journal of Nursing Management, 24(7), 859-868. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12398