please respond to the discussions with reference

Discussion 1

Spiritual care to me means acknowledging and addressing apatient’s spiritual worries, doubts, and questions. According toShelly & Miller (2006, p264) “Spiritual care means puttingpeople in touch with God through compassionate presence, activelistening, witness, prayer, Bible reading and partnering with the bodyof Christ (the church community and the clergy). It is never coerciveor rude.” “Christian spiritual care means facilitating aperson’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ”(Shelly & Miller, 2006, p264). I have mixed feelings aboutwitnessing to my patients because I am worried about being‘coercive or rude’, and have seen witnessing done badlymore often than not. I cringe at how some people come off. I haveprayed with my patients, a Christian prayer to God, for guidance,wisdom, and peace. In a secular society, I watch what I say. I haveasked leading questions about patient’s beliefs and if theybelieve in God/Jesus, then I will talk relatively openly to them, butif they do not, I do not witness to them.

According to Shelly & Miller (2006, p265), a compassionatepresence means “we meet patients where they are, provide theassistance needed at the moment and constantly nudge them toward thegoals God intends for them. Compassion means to feel with anotherperson.” I can agree with this. I can give nudges, and comments,but not a lecture which only serves to turn them off. I like theexample Shelly & Miller (2006) give about the angel coming alongside of Elijah and helping him get back on his feet again so he couldgo on. That’s one of the reasons I went into nursing and how Iwould like to be remembered.

I wholeheartedly agree with active listening; “activelistening includes hearing what a person is not saying as well as theactual thoughts and feelings articulated.” (Shelly & Miller,2006, p266). I try to do this with everyone I come into contact with,not just in the nursing field. “After careful, active listening,there are times when a word of witness is appropriate andhelpful.” (Shelly & Miller, 2006, p267). I fail atwitnessing because I don’t know when it is ‘appropriateand helpful’.

I agree with the aspect of Christian community. “Partneringwith the body of Christ—the church community and theclergy—is another important aspect of spiritual care (Shelly& Miller, 2006, p274). But this is mixed because sometimes it isjust a cop out, as it is easier to just call the clergy than talk tothe patient myself. I also will call clergy from other religions togive support for the patient according to their own beliefs.

Reference

Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care: AChristian worldview for nursing (2 nd ed.). Downers Grove, Il. InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources

Discussion 2

All human beingsexperience deep, existential concerns that are intensified when wesuffer. Questions such as, ‘why do I exist?’, ‘whyam I ill?’, ‘will I die?’, and ‘what willhappen to me when I die?’ are all examples of the concernsthat connect us. Illness can drive us to make our lives meaningful,develop coping strategies, and experience hope. When we supportothers whose needs are finding meaning, purpose, and hope, we areproviding spiritual care.

Shelly and Miller (2006)beautifully, and succinctly state that the definition of spiritualcare is ‘giving hope to the hopeless’ (p. 262).Matthew 9: 2-8 tells us about Jesus healing a paralyzed man.Christ first addressed this man’s depression, saying,‘Son, be of good cheer’ (King James Version). Jesus isgiving this man spiritual care before anything else. He did notheal his paralysis first, he healed his depression first; he spokekind words to him, and then told him his sins were forgiven.Christ addressed this man’s spiritual needs first, thusgiving him hope. If God addresses our spiritual needs first,before physical needs, why don’t we? Shelly and Miller(2006) go on to explain that nurses who provide good spiritualcare facilitate the ‘restoration of an individual’srelationship with God’ (p. 295).

This truth ledme to consider what it means to provide spiritual care to patientswho do not believe in God. Does it mean if I provide good spiritualcare, it will help lead them to the Lord? Does it mean that I cannothope to provide good spiritual care to an atheist? How do I supportsomeone who is looking for meaning, purpose, and hope, if theydon’t believe in God? If spirituality is the feeling of deepconnection we have towards one another, and with the universe ingeneral, then we all are spiritual, whether we believe in God ornot. However, my Christian worldview leads me to understand that asense of interconnectedness cannot exist without God. How can we beconnected, if there is nothing that connects us? I think theprovision of spiritual care for an atheist would have to include anassessment of the nature of what it is that gives them hope,comfort, meaning, and purpose.

I agree withShelly and Miller (2006) that spiritual care means putting people intouch with God, by providing a supportive, compassionate presence.As an example, the nurse theorist, Jean Watson, explains thathelping a patient with their toileting needs is a sacred act(https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/). Who or what is it thatfacilitates that compassionate, supportive presence, if not God?

Reference

Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B.(2006). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing (2^nded.). Downers Grove, IL: IVPAcademic. Retrieved from http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources

Discussion 3

Spiritual care to me means ministering to apatients mind and spirit. It does not necessarily have to exist inconjunction with medical care. I feel like we can provide spiritualcare to our friends and family in need. When one of my friends orfamily members "acts out" or is angry, I try to be calm anduse a combination of empathy, compassion, and active listening to helpthem. In regards to my patients, they all deserve spiritual care.Regardless of their sin, we are to accept them as human beings madefrom God. I have found that using techniques that were mentioned inthe readings, I can provide spiritual care to my patients. By having acompassionate presence, we are letting our patients know that we arefeeling with them. By staying with them and holding their hand orlistening to their fears, we let them share their most privateemotions with us. That is how I feel about my prayers to God. Thereare times when I just need him to hear me. As God's children, and asnurses, we can be there to listen to the scared patient before surgeryor facing a terminal illness. Being an active listener also encouragesspiritual care. Patients in the hospital are being given a lot ofverbal and written information about their illness. They usually don'tfeel comfortable asking questions because they know that doctors andnurses are busy. By giving a patient active listening time, they canexpress their concerns. Regardless of religious preference, the powerof prayer is amazing. I feel as though it is like a"time-out" before a procedure. It is a time to bless thehands of the medical staff, the patient, and the family. A moment ofprayer stops the hands of time for a moment and focuses on thespiritual needs of the patient.

We were created by God with a physical bodyand our own spirit. As medical treatments nurture our physical body,spiritual care through love and compassion nurture our spirits. Ibelieve that if a person's spiritual being is in peace, they canhandle just about anything their physical needs are. I always thank mypatients for allowing me to be a part of their care. I am present forsome of the most private, emotional times in people's lives. Theytrust and look to us for guidance and to help keep them calm. We canhelp extend the spiritual care beyond the hospital setting by reachingout to their community resources such as a pastor, church, or prayer group.

Discussion 4

Ibelieve spiritual care encompasses caring for the individualholistically – mind body and soul/spirit. It means to aspireto provide care which will inspire hope to enable the patient/clientto cope with an illness, trauma, or life change; being cognizant ofthe variant ways in which one may choose to seek a devoutrelationship with a higher power/God/Deity by displaying respect andappreciation for that presence regardless of one’s ownreligion. I feel as though my view is in accordance with the nursingFlorence Nightingale implemented – without excluding or abandoninggood actions, secular nursing seems best to be observed, as itleaves out the biases, to include diversified cultures and practicesin an effort to execute for what nurses are meant – provision of a caring relationship that facilitateshealth and healing (Shelly and Miller, 2006).

Reference

Shellyand Miller. (2006). Nusing – Practice of Care. In J. Shelly & A.Miller, Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing,Second Edition (pp. 231 – 287). Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press.

Discussion 5

All people are made in the image ofGod, whether or not their beliefs tell them that is true, andtherefore, all have value and are loved by God. Spiritual care isapproaching every patient with that first thought in mind andproviding them with care that goes beyond the task at hand. All ofGod’s children have a need to be connected with Him (to fillthat God shaped hole in our hearts) and that can be accomplished inmany ways. Allowing the love of God to shine through us is key.Whatever spiritual care you perform, the goal should be to show thelove of Jesus. Shelly and Miller (2006) list spiritual interventionsthat can fall into the categories of compassionate presence, activelistening, witness, prayer, scripture and Christian community. Iagree with how they discuss spiritual care. I would be cautious inthe area of witness and prayer unless that nurse is particularlygifted in discerning the appropriate time and patient while offeringtruth and hope with a huge helping of grace and love. Maybe I feelthat way because of my area of practice in the ED and trauma worldare most always fast paced and we don’t usually have time tobuild that kind of foundation. The other interventions can be easilyincorporated into a fast paced ED, including offering to have thechaplain or their personal clergy contacted opening the opportunityfor payer and witness.

References

Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B.(2006). Called to care A Christian worldview for nursing(2nd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Discussion 6

Have you ever wondered why faith is listed first then hope and lastlove? A human does need to have faith in something greater thanthemselves. Hope is needed for the future and it takes love of othersto reach out and care for those around us. Spiritual care is learningwhat the patient believes or the worldview held as truth and thenrespecting the view held by the patient. The nurse respects andresponds to the patient at their level of need. The nurse does nothave the answer but is available to listen, guide, and support thepatient at whatever stage they are in.

Personally, I like several things in this week's literature such as,spiritual care given in a spirit of gentleness and humility is usuallywell received (Shelley, 2006). This is because it is notjudgmental in nature but can open the door for conversation. To beable to care for a patient without judgment no matter how theirworldview differs from the one held by the nurse is true Christianity.

This has been a touchy subject with me after working in a hospitalthat was attempting to be politically correct after 9/11. The problembegan when they okayed for the Muslim nurses to wear their head wrapsbut sent out a notice that any nurses who wore a crucifix would haveto remove it or be sent home. This was a hospital that had a Catholicpriest rounding on a regular basis, fixed fish every Friday along withperforming Ash Wednesday. The thought was that the crucifix wasoffensive to the other faiths and we instructed that nurses were notallowed to pray with any patients. The nurses' autonomy was beingrestricted, beneficence was being taken away by holding one religiousview greater than another.

Is there a difference or an accord with the description of spiritual care?

A difference or harmony is according to the nurse giving care. Ifthe nurse is combative, negative, pushy, or strongly opinionated thisis destructive to the nurse patient relationship. This type ofattitude will be detrimental to the healing process since itinterferes with the mindset of the patient along with causing conflictwith the worldview held as truth to the patient. Each patient is adifferent situation but each patient only wants someone to listen totheir story. The nurses' responsibility is to be careful not to try togive answers but to only be a receptive listener. The nurse shouldnever be Job's friends that only spoke death.

References

Shelley, J. &. (2006). Called to care: A Christian worldviewfor nursing. Downers Grove: IVP Academic.