Reply 1 What would spirituality be according to your own worldview Every

Reply 1

What would spirituality be according to your own worldview?

Every person has his or her very own specific worldview. “A worldview is not a physical lens but, rather, a philosophical and intellectual lens though which a person sees and interprets everything one encounters.” (Hogan, 2020) Spirituality is in my personal opinion or my worldview is an important aspect of life for all people of the earth. To be spiritual, I feel does not mean that you are necessarily of a specific religion but believe or link to a higher power than oneself. Some people are part of a religious group and others may not belong to a religious group. Spirituality for me personally has changed throughout my life. I was a regular churchgoer for much of my life as a child and as a young adult. My husband and I became members of a church in our area but when we moved from the area we did not find a new church as of yet. I find comfort and stability in myself when we regularly attend church services. For myself, I do find that being a part of a religion is my spiritual worldview. However, I feel that it is a wonderful thing that in our country there is freedom to choose.

How do you believe that your conception of spirituality would influence the way in which you care for patients?

I believe that my conception of spirituality, of being open and understanding of many ideals of spirituality makes it easier to care for patients of different types of spiritual backgrounds. “Like your sense of purpose, your personal definition of spirituality may change throughout your life, adapting to your own experiences and relationships.” (Louise Delagran, 2016) This is true in my work experiences. I have taken care of patients with different religious beliefs whom had specific healthcare interventions that they vow to not undergo as part of the religious group they are a part. I have witnessed providers doing great work to care for these patients and offering alternatives to care in respecting the wishes of that patient and family. Where I live is not a largely diverse region but I do take interest and enjoy learning about different spiritual groups. Recently, I learned more about the Jehovah Witness religion because my department has a staff person whom is part of that religious group. It was very interesting to hear about the group and to better understand the reasoning behind some of the medical intervention denials. As nurses, I think it is important to keep an open mind when caring for patients with different spiritual beliefs and the best way to do that is to learn and listen to the patients.

References

Hogan, D. W. (2020). Grand Canyon University. Retrieved from Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision Making in Health Care: https://lc.gcumedia.com/phi413v/practicing-dignity-an-introduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care/v1.1/#/chapter/1

Louise Delagran, M. M. (2016). University of Minnesota. Retrieved from What Is Spirituality? : https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-spirituality

Reply 2

 Anoute Benjamin 4 postsRe: Topic 1 DQ 1

As a nurse and according to my worldviews of spirituality, it is commonly thought of as a search for what is sacred in life, a person’s deepest values in relationship with God, or a higher power that transcends the self. Also, persons may hold powerful spiritual beliefs without having or being active in any institutional religion (McCormick, 2014). Therefore, spirituality can be defined as “a belief system which focuses on intangible elements that impart vitality and meaning to life’s events”. Many in the baby-boom generation who claim not to be religious, admit to a sense of “reverence” for life, like the concept championed by theologian-philosopher Albert Schweitzer (McCormick, 2014).

My conception of spirituality as a nurse would influence the way in which I provide care to patients in that nurses have intuitive and anecdotal impressions that the beliefs and religious practices of patients have a profound effect upon their existential experiences with illness and the threat of dying (McCormick, 2014). This is because when patients face a terminal illness, religious and spiritual factors often figure into their coping strategies and influence important decisions such as the employment of advance directives, the living will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. In addition, considerations of the meaning, purpose and value of human life are used to make choices about the desirability of CPR and aggressive life-support, or whether and when to forego life support and accept death as appropriate and natural under the circumstances (McCormick, 2014). Many are comforted in the face of a health-crisis with an inner calm that is founded on their deep trust in God’s loving care for them in all situations.

Moreover, religious and spiritual beliefs and practices are important in the lives of many patients, yet nurses, medical students, residents and physicians are often uncertain about whether, when, or how, to address spiritual or religious issues. Physicians in previous times were trained to diagnose and treat disease and had little or no training in how to relate to the spiritual side of the patient. In addition, professional ethics requires physicians to not impinge their beliefs on patients who are particularly vulnerable when seeking health care (McCormick, 2014; Kumar, K., 2004). As a result, no nurse or physician could be expected to understand the beliefs and practices of so many differing faith communities.

References

Kumar, K. (2004): Spiritual Care. Journal of Christian Nursing, 21(1), 24-28. doi: 10.1097/01.cnj.0000262275.10582.66

McCormick, R. T., (2014): Spirituality and Medicine. Retrieved from: https://depts.washington.edu/bhdept/ethics-medicine/bioethics-topics/detail/79