Spirituality

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

"Tell me if you have a higher power or authority that helps you act on your beliefs."

• F—Faith

• I—Importance of spirituality

• C—Community

• A—Interventions to address spiritual needs

"Describe which activities give you comfort spiritually."

• F—Faith

• I—Importance of spirituality

• C—Community

• A—Interventions to address spiritual needs

"To whom do you go for support in times of difficulty?"

• F—Faith

• I—Importance of spirituality

• C—Community

• A—Interventions to address spiritual needs

"Your illness has kept you from attending church. Is that a problem for you?"

• F—Faith

• I—Importance of spirituality

• C—Community

• A—Interventions to address spiritual needs

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 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 while coming to visit him in the hospital. 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.”

• “I want to be more involved in my church.”

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 the 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.)

• Encourage family members to participate in the exercise.

• 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.

• Explain that it is best to meditate about 5 minutes 4 times a day.

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