Characteristics of Spirituality
2.0 Contact Hours
While theorists and researchers have yet to agree on a single, universally accepted theory or definition of spirituality, few would deny its existence or impact on health and healing. In the past, spirituality was synonymous with religion. Although spirituality may include traditional religious beliefs and practices, spirituality is a much broader concept that also includes nonreligious beliefs and expressions. It includes a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves and typically involves a search for meaning in life. For many cultures, spirituality is deeply connected to healing practices and expanded stages of consciousness.
Sacred Spaces, Healing Places
2.3 Contact Hours
Modern nursing was founded on the concepts of healing environments. Florence Nightingale was one of the first to realize the importance of nature, light, noise, and sensory stimulation in healing. Today, it is well known that healing environments empower patients to be involved in their own healing journey and take responsibility for their own health. Through their understanding of the elements of a sacred, healing space and the environments role in healing, healthcare providers and consumers can create and support these spiritual spaces so their health is enhanced, their culture and history are respected, and wellness, prevention, and self-care are emphasized.
Spiritual Assessment and Spiritual Care
2.0 Contact Hours
Spiritual care is an important and necessary part of appropriate patient care, yet many healthcare professionals feel ill equipped to provide it to their clients. When people experience a spiritual crisis and need spiritual care, they may choose to discuss their concerns only if they have been shown respect, understanding, and appreciation by the person(s) caring for them. Thus, understanding spirituality and its impact on well-being is one way to demonstrate respect and appreciation and helps healthcare practitioners provide compassionate and appropriate spiritual care.
Spiritual Care of the Dying
2.1 Contact Hours
The dying experience is unique for each individual. For many individuals, death is not an end to life. It is simply a passage to another dimension, sometimes called heaven, the spiritual world, another plane of existence, or nirvana. As knowledge of issues involved in death and dying increases and positive attitudes about death and dying are promoted, the spiritual care and support for people who are dying continues to improve. In addition, there are many spiritual, psychological, social, and cultural healing strategies that can assist healthcare providers in the compassionate spiritual care of the dying.
Spiritual Dimensions of Aging
2.2 Contact Hours
Aging presents unique challenges to an individuals spiritual growth, development, and expression. The relationships between loss, hope, love, sexuality, religion, and health can profoundly affect spirituality in the older adult. In addition, spirituality and religion help the aging adult cope with personal difficulties, stress, surgery, and chronic diseases. Finally, the development of spirituality in the aging adult incorporates the cultural wisdom and spiritual wisdom of elders.
Spiritual Rituals
2.0 Contact Hours
The spiritual rituals of prayer, meditation, guided imagery, gratitude, spending time in nature, dancing, storytelling, and art can all help people connect to their inner being, to others, and to a divine spirit or Sacred Source. A part of spiritual and cultural traditions, rituals help to provide awareness, meaning, intention, and purpose in life.
Spirituality and the Grieving Process
2.0 Contact Hours
Dealing with loss and grief is one of the great spiritual challenges of life. Individuals experience grief differently, depending on their inner resources, support, and relationships. Grief is subjective and can have psychological, social, and spiritual responses. Although cultural expressions of grief may vary, the deep sense of loss and sorrow is almost universal.
Spirituality, Culture, and Health
2.2 Contact Hours
Healthcare professionals and spiritual care providers face many challenges in becoming prepared to administer holistic, respectful, and culturally and spiritually competent care for their patients and clients. Understanding the relationship between spirituality, culture, and health is a vital part of providing spiritually competent care.
Spirituality, Religion, and Children
2.2 Contact Hours
Spirituality is a dynamic, evolving process that begins in infancy and continues throughout life. Spiritual development in children is especially important because of its impact on the rest of the childs life.
Spirituality, Religion, and Health
2.0 Contact Hours
Religion and spirituality are distinct yet related concepts. An individuals spirituality, religious beliefs, and religious practices can all have a profound effect on his or her health. The major spiritual elements and rituals of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are explored. The benefits of religion on specific health practices are examined, and the role of healthcare providers in supporting their clients spiritual and religious beliefs is discussed.
Spirituality, The Health Care Professional, and the Spiritual Care Provider
2.0 Contact Hours
The relationship between healthcare provider and client can provide both with a sense of strength, healing, inner peace, and an interconnectedness that gives meaning to the relationship. This relationship is a deeply spiritual one and results from the sharing of intimate experiences such as birth, death, life-threatening illnesses, emotional chaos, and the issues that arise during healing. By caring, listening, and engendering trust, the healthcare or spiritual care provider and his or her client can form a spiritual relationship that can heal each other.
Therapeutic Interventions for Healing
2.0 Contact Hours
The therapeutic interventions of music, art, dance, humor, and animal-assisted therapy can be integrated into mainstream medicine and should be considered as complements to, not replacements for, mainstream medical treatments. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is evaluating these therapeutic interventions and research is demonstrating that they are not only safe but effective as well.