Nokea
A nurse in a long-term care facility is performing spirituality assessments of residents on their unit. What is the best question the nurse could use to assess for spiritual needs?
- A. "Can you describe your usual spiritual practices and how you maintain them daily?"
- B. "Are your spiritual beliefs causing you any concern?"
- C. "How can I and the other nurses help you maintain your spiritual practices?"
- D. "How do your religious beliefs help you to feel at peace?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Questioning how the staff can meet patients' spiritual practices assesses spiritual needs. Asking the patient to describe spiritual practices is an assessment of spiritual practices. Asking about concerns assesses spiritual distress, and asking about feeling at peace assesses the need for forgiveness.
You may also like to solve these questions
After terminating a pregnancy, a patient tells the nurse, "I shouldn't have had that abortion because I'm Catholic, but what else could I do? I'm afraid I'll never get close to my mother or back in the Church again." They then talk with their priest about this feeling of guilt. Which evaluation statement shows a solution to the problem?
- A. Patient stated, "I wish I had talked with the priest sooner. I now know God has forgiven me, and my mother is beginning to understand."
- B. Patient has slept from 10 PM to 6 AM for 3 consecutive nights without medication.
- C. Patient has developed mutually caring relationships with others.
- D. Patient has identified several spiritual beliefs that give purpose to their life.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient's statements indicate feelings of guilt, which has caused spiritual distress. Only option a clearly evaluates whether the patient's feelings of guilt have resolved after speaking to the priest.
A nurse who is caring for patients on a pediatric unit is assessing children's spiritual needs. Which is the most important source of learning for a child's own spirituality?
- A. Child's church or religious organization
- B. What their parents say about God and religion
- C. Their parents' behavior in relationship to the family, others, and to God
- D. Family's spiritual advisor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Children learn most about their own spirituality from how their parents behave in relationship to one another, their children, others, and God (or a higher being). What parents say about God and religion, the family's spiritual advisor, and the child's church or religious organization are less important sources of learning.
A nurse who is comfortable with spirituality is caring for a patient who needs spiritual counseling. What action will the nurse take first?
- A. Calling the patient's own spiritual advisor
- B. Asking if the patient has a spiritual advisor they wish to consult
- C. Counseling the patient and, if unsuccessful, making a referral to a spiritual advisor
- D. Explaining the best health options for the patient to the spiritual advisor
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Even when a nurse feels comfortable discussing spiritual concerns, they should always determine whether the patient has a spiritual advisor they would like to consult. Calling the patient's spiritual advisor may be premature if it is a matter the nurse can handle.
A patient who lost their home, spouse, and children in a fire is depressed and states that they have no reason to live. The patient states, "My family was my life." The nurse documents a health problem of Spiritual Distress based on the patient's inability to find meaning and purpose in their current situation. What is the priority nursing action for this patient?
- A. Asking the patient which spiritual advisor they would like you to call
- B. Recommending that the patient engage in spiritual or religious readings
- C. Determining what has given the patient meaning and purpose in the past
- D. Reminding the patient that God is a loving and personal God
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse prioritizes determining what, in addition to their family, has given the patient's life meaning and purpose in the past. This helps the patient focus on their strengths. This assessment data can be used to further plan individualized spiritual care.
A nurse is caring for patients in a long-term care facility. Which nursing actions are appropriate based on the religious beliefs of these patients? Select all that apply.
- A. Asking a Buddhist if they have any diet restrictions related to the observance of holy days
- B. Asking a Christian Scientist who is in traction if they would like to try nonpharmacologic pain measures
- C. Administering medications to a Muslim patient and avoiding touching the patient's lips
- D. Asking a Roman Catholic patient if they would like to attend Mass in the common room on Sunday
- E. Avoiding scheduling treatment and procedures on Saturday for a Hindu patient
- F. Consulting with the medicine man of a Native American patient and incorporating their suggestions into the care plan
Correct Answer: A,B,D,F
Rationale: The nurse should ask a Buddhist if they have any diet restrictions related to the observance of holy days. Since Christian Scientists avoid the use of pain medications, the nurse should offer nonpharmacologic pain relief measures. A nurse should ask a Roman Catholic if they would like to attend Mass on Sunday. The nurse would appropriately consult with the medicine man of a Native American patient and incorporate their suggestions into the care plan.