Spiritual Health

A nurse is caring for a patient who has just had a near-death experience (NDE) following a cardiac arrest. Which intervention by the nurse best promotes the spiritual well-being of the patient after the NDE?

• Allowing the patient to discuss the experience

• Referring the patient to pastoral care

• Having the patient talk to another patient who had an NDE

• Offering to pray for the patient

The nurse is planning spiritual care interventions for an 8-year-old patient. Based on the patient's age, the nurse must consider which growth and development factor when planning the spiritual care?

• This age-group's concept of spirituality is provided by parents, and love and affection promote spirituality.

• This age-group begins to ask about God or a Supreme Being and is influenced by spiritual and religious stories.

• This age-group is fascinated with magic and mystery and often believes illness is related to bad behavior.

• This age-group has a clear concept of a higher spiritual being and is interested in learning about spirituality.

A nurse is caring for a patient who is a Muslim and has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following items does the nurse need to remove from the meal tray when it is delivered to the patient?

• Small container of vanilla ice cream

• A dozen red grapes

• Bacon and eggs

• Garden salad with ranch dressing

A 44-year-old male patient has just been told that his wife and child were killed in an auto accident. After analyzing the assessment findings, the nurse recognizes that which statements made by the patient support a nursing diagnosis of Spiritual Distress related to loss of family members?

(select all that apply)

• I need to call my sister for support

• I have nothing to live for now

• Why would my God do this to me?

• I need to pray for a miracle

A patient has just been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She is alone; her family will not be arriving from out of town for an hour. What intervention does the nurse implement that best provides support of the patient's spiritual well-being at this time?

• Make a referral to a professional spiritual care adviser.

• Sit down and talk with the patient; have her discuss her feelings and listen attentively.

• Move the patient's Bible from her bedside cabinet drawer to the top of her over-bed table.

• Ask the patient whether she would like to learn more about the implications of having this type of tumor.

A nurse is preparing to teach an older adult who has chronic arthritis how to practice meditation. Which of the following teaching strategies are appropriate?

(select all that apply)

• Have the patient identify a quiet room in the home that has minimal interruptions

• Suggest the use of a quiet fan running in the room

• Encourage family members to participate in the exercise

• Show the patient how to sit comfortably with the limitation of his arthritis and focus on prayer

A nursing student is developing a plan of care for a 74-year-old-female patient who has spiritual distress over losing a spouse. As the nurse develops appropriate interventions, which characteristics of older adults should be considered?

(select all that apply)

• Older adults do not routinely use complementary medicine to cope with illness

• Older adults achieve spiritual resilience through frequent expressions of gratitude

• Have the patient determine whether her husband left a legacy behind

• Offer the patient her choice of rituals or participation in exercise

A nurse used spiritual rituals as an intervention in a patient's care. Which of the following questions is most appropriate to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention?

• Do you feel the need to forgive your wife over your loss?

• What can I do to help you feel more at peace?

• Did either prayer or meditation prove helpful to you?

• Should we plan on having your family try to visit you more often in the hospital?

The nurse is caring for a 50-year-old woman visiting the outpatient medicine clinic. The patient has had type 1 diabetes mellitus since age 13. She has numerous complications from her disease, including reduced vision, heart disease, and severe numbness and tingling of the extremities. Knowing that spirituality helps patients cope with chronic illness, which of the following principles should the nurse apply in practice? (select all that apply)

• Pay attention to the patient's spiritual identity throughout the course of her illness.

• When the patient questions the reason for her longtime suffering, try to provide answers.

• Listen to the patient's story each visit to the clinic, and offer a compassionate presence.

• Consult with a spiritual care adviser, and have the adviser recommend useful interventions.