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


�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


• 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


MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS

AND COMMON HEALTH

BELIEFS Maria Carmela L. Domocmat, RN, MSN

SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT

TECHNIQUES


o Note: spirituality is multidimensional and unique

to each individual

o these presents difficulties in proper assessment


Spiritual assessment techniques

�Nonformal

�Formal


• 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


• Formal

o use of formal instruments

oDaily Spiritual Experiences Scale

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


ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES


• 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


�Begin to focus questions


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?


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


�Continue to assess other dimensions of

spirituality within groups


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)


o Do you consider yourself part of an organized

religion?

o How important is this to you?


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?


�Directly address beliefs that may conflict or

affect one’s health care.


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?


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)


�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?


• Use assessment tools

oDaily Spiritual Experiences Scale

o Brief Religious Coping Questionnaire (RCOPE)


SELECTED NURSING

DIAGNOSES


• Wellness Diagnosis: Readiness for enhanced

Spiritual well-being

• Risk diagnosis: Risk for Spiritual distress

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