spiritual assessment

Spiritual

Assessment Assessment

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

Why assess spirituality?

• religion and spirituality have been r/t a person’s

greater well-being in the face of chronic disease

mgmt and assistance in adhering to medical

regimenregimen

• religion and spirituality can be powerful coping

mechanisms when a person faces end-of-life

issues

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

�religion and spirituality have been r/t lower

levels of morality, less heart dse, lower BP, less

depression, lower levels of stress, less alcohol

and tobacco abuse, greater well-being and

optimism, and positive health habits

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

• clients have also called for medical providers to

address spiritual issues during client-provider

interactions

• nurses have more opportunities to address • nurses have more opportunities to address

spiritual concerns with clients bcoz nurses are

the primary points of contact for most clients

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS

AND COMMON HEALTH

BELIEFS Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT

TECHNIQUES

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o Note: spirituality is multidimensional and unique

to each individual

o these presents difficulties in proper assessment

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

Spiritual assessment techniques

�Nonformal

�Formal

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

• Nonformal

o FICA spiritual assessment tool

o nonformal in the sense of asking open-ended

questions and allowing client to disclose pertinent questions and allowing client to disclose pertinent

information

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

• Formal

o use of formal instruments

oDaily Spiritual Experiences Scale

o Brief Religious Coping Questionnaire (RCOPE)o Brief Religious Coping Questionnaire (RCOPE)

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

• Listen to client’s story and seek clarification

when needed

• Observe nonverbal and verbal communication

patterns in presence of others patterns in presence of others

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

�Begin to focus questions

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o We have been discussion your support systems.

I was wondering, what is there in your life that

gives you internal support?

o What are your sources of hope, strength, o What are your sources of hope, strength,

comfort, and peace?

o What do you hold onto during difficult time?

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o What sustains you and keeps you going?

o For some people, their religious or spiritual

beliefs act as a source of comfort and strength in

dealing with life’s ups and downs; is this true for dealing with life’s ups and downs; is this true for

you?

o use FICA spiritual assessment tool

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

�Continue to assess other dimensions of

spirituality within groups

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o Ask about organizational and religious

involvement (note: remember that not all

persons who state they are religious and/or

spiritual are involved with organized religious spiritual are involved with organized religious

grps or ascribe to all the religious practices of

that group)

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o Do you consider yourself part of an organized

religion?

o How important is this to you?

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o What aspects of you religion are helpful or not

so helpful to you?

o Are you part os religious or spiritual

community? Does it help you? How? community? Does it help you? How?

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

�Directly address beliefs that may conflict or

affect one’s health care.

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o Has being sick (or your current situation)

affected your ability to do the things that usually

help your spirituality? (Or affected your

relationship with God?)relationship with God?)

o As a nurse, is there anything I can do to help

you access the resources that usually help you?

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

o Would it be helpful for you to speak to a clinical

chaplain/community spiritual leader?

o Are there any spiritual restrictions I should

know about in providing your medical care? know about in providing your medical care?

(e.g., dietary restrictions, use of blood products)

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

�If the client is dying – How do your beliefs

affect the kind of (nursing) care you would like

me to provide over the net few

days/weeks/months?

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

• Use assessment tools

oDaily Spiritual Experiences Scale

o Brief Religious Coping Questionnaire (RCOPE)

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

SELECTED NURSING

DIAGNOSES

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

• Wellness Diagnosis: Readiness for enhanced

Spiritual well-being

• Risk diagnosis: Risk for Spiritual distress

• Actual diagnosis: Spiritual distress• Actual diagnosis: Spiritual distress

Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN