Chapter 46 Spirituality

Which of the following group of terms best defines spiritual distress?

• Spirituality, religion

• Alienation, despair

• Faith, prayer

• Forgiveness, purpose

Answer explanation

Terms that define spiritual distress include spiritual pain, alienation, anxiety, guilt, anger, loss, and despair.

What spiritual need is believed to underlie all religious traditions and is common to all people?

• Love and relatedness

• Physical hygiene

• Religious education

• Church services

Answer explanation

According to Shelly and Fish (1988), there are three spiritual needs underlying all religious traditions and common t people: (1) the needs for meaning and purpose, (2) love and relatedness, and (3) forgiveness.

Nurses provide care to meet needs in all the human dimensions. What is one intervention nurses can implement to meet spiritual needs?

• Refer all questions to a spiritual advisor.

• Remind clients that nurses are not ministers.

• Avoid any discussion of religion or spirituality.

• Offer a compassionate presence.

Answer explanation

Although nurses may differ in their beliefs about how involved they should become in meeting spiritual needs, it is impossible to ignore the spiritual dimensions of health. Nurses can assist clients to meet spiritual needs through a variety of interventions, including offering a compassionate presence.

A client expresses confidence in his traditional healer to relieve symptoms of an illness. What is the client demonstrating?

• Hope

• Spirituality

• Faith

• Charity

Answer explanation

Faith generally refers to a confident belief in something for which there is no proof or material evidence. It can involve a person, idea, or thing and is usually followed by action related to the ideals and values of the belief. A client who has faith in a health care provider is more likely to follow the plan of care, and experience benefits.

A client tells the nurse, “I am an atheist. I do not believe in God.” What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

• “Well, I believe in God and you should, too.”

• “I respect what you choose to believe in.”

• “How can you deny the existence of God?”

• “What makes you think you are an atheist?”

Answer explanation

An atheist is a person who denies the existence of God, guided by philosophies of living that do not include a religious faith. The atheist deserves respect for what he or she chooses to believe.

A client states that his life has meaning and purpose, he feels loved, and has experienced forgiveness in his life. What is the term that describes this state of spirituality?

• Spiritual belief

• Spiritual alienation

• Spiritual health

• Spiritual bliss

Answer explanation

Defined most simply, spiritual health or well-being is the condition that exists when the universal spiritual needs for meaning and purpose, love and belonging, and forgiveness are met.

What factor is necessary to express and experience spirituality?

• Quiet time in isolation from others

• Membership in an organized religion

• Long-term suffering and pain

• Connectedness with other people

Answer explanation

People express and experience spirituality through love and connectedness with other people. Love develops from the basic human need to love and be loved and is necessary to spiritual wholeness.

While reviewing the chart for an assigned client before beginning care, a student notes that the client does not belong to a specific religion. Based on this information, what should the student interpret about the client?

• A person may be deeply spiritual but not profess a religion.

• Belonging to an organized religion is essential to spirituality.

• The student will not have to consider the spiritual dimension.

• The client should be referred for spiritual counseling.

Answer explanation

Religion refers to an organized system of beliefs about a higher power. A nurse should not interpret the fact that a client does not belong to an organized religion to mean the client has no spiritual needs; a person may be deeply spiritual yet not profess a religion.

Which of the following health care practices may be influenced by a young woman’s religion?

• Yearly mammograms

• Annual physicals

• Birth-control measures

• Health assessments

Answer explanation

Certain practices associated with health care may have religious significance for a client. For example, acceptable birth- control measures are determined by some religious faiths.

How can religious, life-affirming influences be compared with basic human needs?

• Life-affirming influences encourage self-actualization.

• Life-affirming influences enhance life.

• Life-affirming influences meet basic physiologic needs.

• Life-affirming influences cultivate wisdom.

Answer explanation

Religious influences may be life affirming or life denying. Life-affirming influences encourage self-actualization, the highest level of basic human needs.