Importance Of Spirituality In Nursing

Introduction It is safe to say that spirituality effects the lives of nurses daily even if some are not aware of what it actually is. In almost every assessment, there is a need to assess a client’s spirituality. This is no different in my personal journey through life. Not only is there a need to assess my client’s spirituality, I also need to be aware of my spiritual needs as well. The Spirituality in Healthcare class has helped me to get more acquainted with my spirituality. In the past while going through issues in life I would get numb and call that strength, but through this class and other methods I have learned how to take better care of my spirituality. Taking care of myself spiritually is the first step in taking care of others spiritually.

Providing spiritual sensitive care is now one of my top priorities when in the clinical setting. Spiritual care begins with building a rapport with the client, actively listening to the client, and listening for deeper subliminal feelings in their story.

Listening is one of the biggest ways to impact a person’s life, therefore, while the client is talking I have learned to not try to think of how I am going to answer. God will give me the answers to give the client. This reminds me of a verse in the Bible, Exodus 4:12, “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exodus 4:12, New King James Version). This means that in a time of not knowing how to respond to a situation, God will give you the most effective words to say. “God is personal. This means God is not mere force or energy or existent “substance,” (Sire, 2009, p. 28). He already knows the matters of our hearts, He is just waiting to be invited in to our situations by us. He wants to be invited in every aspect of our

A prudent nurse becomes familiar with the client’s religious or spiritual beliefs. This is something that I have started to incorporate in my assessments of the clients I work with. “Being aware of the clients religious and spiritual affiliation opens up the dialogue for an in-depth conversation about spirituality. This also helps build up trust between the nurse and the client. This part of the spiritual assessment is all about gathering information” (Koenig, 2013, p. 186-187). It is imperative to support the client’s beliefs and not push my personal beliefs on them. Competent spiritual care takes care of all types of client not just the ones I can identify with. “Supporting the client’s beliefs shows resect for the client, and the client’s ability to cope may have a direct correlation with the client’s belief system” (Koenig, 2013, p. 187). It is also imperative to utilize the Chaplain if the client asks for