Spiritual Nursing Care

Paper Summary:

This paper stresses that there is considerable evidence indicating positive associations between spirituality, health and well-being, which makes spirituality an important framework for nursing care. The author points out that spirituality raises energy levels by inducing relaxation and enhancing connectivity between the patient and a higher power. Thus, spirituality plays an important role in controlling the effect of chronic pain on moods, sleep and coping strategies. The paper concludes that, to treat the rheumatoid arthritis of the patient discussed in the paper, a multidisciplinary approach to the problem that includes pain relief measures such as relaxation and distraction therapy is necessary.

Table of Contents:
Nursing Issue
Goal
Nursing Intervention
Rationale

From the Paper:

"Patients who use relaxation techniques successfully experience a number of physiological and behavioral changes. When a patient is relaxed, they generally exhibit a decrease in blood pressure, heart rate, respirations, oxygen consumption, and basal metabolism. Relaxation is also hypothesized to affect pain by reducing tissue oxygen demand and lowering the levels of chemicals, such as lactic acid which trigger the sensation of pain. There is also evidence to suggest that relaxation techniques can increase the brains alpha waves, which can enhance the body's immune system ..."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baldacchino, D. R. (2006). Nursing competencies for spiritual care [Electronic version]. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 15, 885-896.
• Bartlett, S., Piedmont, R., Bilderback, A., Matsumoto, A. K., & Bathon, J. M. (2003). Spirituality, well being, and quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis [Electronic version]. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 49, 778-783.
• Campling, F., & Sharpe, M. (2006). Living with a long-term illness: The facts. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Chung, L. Y. F., Wong, F. K. Y., & Chan, M. F. (2006). Relationship of nurses' spirituality to their understanding and practice of spiritual care [Electronic version]. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 58, 58-170.
• Clark, C. (2004). The holistic approach to chronic disease. New York: Springer Publishing.Crisp, J., & Taylor, C. (2005). Potter and Perry's fundamentals of nursing (2nd ed.). Marrickville: Elsevier.

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