Download - Spirituality and Healing
Spirituality and Healing
What is Spirituality? A sense of
presence higher than human.
“Healing is a work of spirit.”
Rachel Remen
Albert Einstein “Everyone who is seriously involved in the
pursuit of science becomes convinced that a Spirit is manifest in the Laws of the Universe….a Spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we, with our modest powers, must feel humble.”
Spiritual well-being: Enhances the immune system Promotes healing Diminishes stress hormones Delays disease progression Gives hope and sense of purpose Correlates strongly with physical health
Faith vs. Religion Faith: a human universal Religion: an organized practice of faith Faith: the making of personal meaning Religion: the corporate expression of faith Faith: changes with human development
and life experience Religion: based on cumulative tradition of
worship methods
Faith gives hope.
“Man can cope with anything, if he can find meaning in it.”
Victor Frankl “Man’s Search for Meaning”
Hemingway “….the world breaks everyone and some of
us are strong at the broken places.”
The Power of Prayer Effectively elicits the relaxation response Positively impacts medical outcomes Promotes happiness and hope Effects are supported by research
The Power of Religious Practice
“What is to one man a coincidence is to another a miracle.”
Richard Selzer “Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery”
The role of the nurse It is NOT:
An imposition of one’s beliefs on another
An opportunity for evangelization
Judgmental of differences in practices
The role of the nurse: Requires
communication skills Demands sensitivity
& intuition Is founded on genuine
caring Incorporates respect
for all human beings
To support spiritually: Assess the client’s faith and beliefs Evaluate the extent of the client’s support
system Determine the client’s religious practices Demonstrate support and make referrals
Religious practices impacting health care: Judaism: Kosher dietary
restrictions Hinduism/Buddism:
vegetarians Jehovah’s Witnesses: no
blood transfusions Roman Catholic: infant
baptism/communion/end of life traditions
Islam: eating pork is prohibited; end of life traditions
Christian Scientist: use prayer for healing
“My Grandfather’s Blessings”Rachel Remen
“It is as important to care for people’s souls as it is for their hearts”
Mother Teresa (No Greater Love)
“What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small drops of oil. What are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting.”