Nursing and Spirituality



Abstract

This paper aims to describe about the nursing and spirituality, starting by giving the definition of spirituality and linking it with the nursing, paper also discusses the synergy model and its usage in providing the spiritual care to the patients the paper concludes by giving the importance of spirituality in nursing profession, and identify some of the method of giving spiritual care.

Nursing and Spirituality

Introduction

Nursing is a very noble profession. This profession is experiencing exemplar shift and creating a paradox situation for Christian nurses and Christian patients, its new focus is on the spiritual side, many researcher believes that by giving a spiritual care to the patient can help nurse to cure the patient effectively, spiritual care has provided a broad definition of nursing which helps in bringing the patient in to the desired situation. (Cox H. 1995)Spirituality is becoming important aspect in the nursing profession for caring patients. Analyzing the nursing profession in context of spirituality can help for identifying the methods which can give more relief to the patient.

Spirituality:

Spirituality is a new concept in health sciences. In fact many authors and researchers believes that concept of spirituality is broader as compare to the concept of religion. Religious Scholars way of thinking and practices is a way of expressing spirituality. Whereas spirituality not only a part of religion, it can also exist in other aspect of the human life. (Taylor EJ 2004)Spirituality is defined as the method which helps the person in searching for the meaning of life and experiencing peace and practicing his or her religious knowledge. Connectivity to the spiritual life varies with every person. On the other hand religion is the obedience and loyalty for accepting the formal system of beliefs and practices. Many of the nurse authors think that spirituality is a universal trend. Many people do not accept this thing and do not get the supernatural phenomena in world. Every person has its own way for seeking the approval and identifying the meaning in their lives. (Taylor EJ 2002) Therefore spiritual is a very broad and multidimensional concept.

Components of spirituality:

Spirituality in nursing consists of the two basic components named as vertical and horizontal.

Vertical Component:

Vertical part of the spirituality deals with the inspiration and defines the link between the patient's body and how patient feels the things taking place around him. (Berry D 2005) This outside thing deals with the religion aspect of the patient which includes the godly and belief that there is god who controls the things.

Horizontal Component:

The horizontal connection defines the link between the two persons. For example it defines the connection between the nurse and patient. It could be understood with the help of social support rooted with the spirituality and creates some religious setting among two people.

Spiritual Care can be defined as a condition of involvement in the field of spirituality; Spiritual care cannot be given a category of complete spirituality. Spiritual care mainly focuses on the hospitals where nurses provide care to the patient. (Flannelly LT 2002) In ...