Tools for Spiritual Care

Volume 22, Number 1 Winter 2005

Editorial
What Makes for Good Spiritual Care? by Kathy Schoonover-Shoffner
The editorial addresses how providing appropriate spiritual care is different from proselytizing vulnerable people. Schoonover-Shoffner outlines three distinct differences and encourages nurses to make the most of every opportunity while never misleading or manipulating. She states, "Sharing faith with those who want to hear differs from imposing beliefs."

A Click Away: Documenting Spiritual Care by Lisa Burkhart
Learn how nursing classification and computerized documentation systems are providing solutions to the problems of linking narratives and spiritual care outcomes with nursing notes. NANDA, NIC and NOC nomenclatures-including new terms, are included with the article.

Spiritual Assessment Made Easy . . . With Acronyms! by Carrie M. Dameron
Spiritual assessment can seem complex and time consuming. However, easy to use acronym assessment tools can help you quickly assess and plan for spiritual needs. These devices are easy to remember and useful for a diverse patient population. Four acronym models are provided along with an example case study application.

A Code of Ethics for Christian Witness by Doug Whallon
Following a code of ethics as we seek to bring others to faith in Jesus Christ helps us be more effective witnesses for God. Whallon shares eight important standards for sharing your faith to help you be a sensitive and ethical witness for Jesus Christ.

Trusting God: Foundation for Spiritual Care by Leslie Van Dover and Jane Bacon Pfeiffer
How do nurses prepare to give spiritual care? These authors unearthed something intriguing as they explored the process nurses use to provide spiritual care to parishioners. Their discovery helps nurses in every area of practice.

What Have We Learned from Spiritual Care Research? by Elizabeth Johnston Taylor
An exploration of spiritual care nursing research since 1990 yields helpful answers about spiritual care while raising some thought-provoking questions. This synthesis of findings from over 60 studies offers hands-on ideas for giving spiritual care and practical implications for future research. Research can help us understand how to provide the best spiritual care. Includes exhaustive references, research summaries and citations.

Silence Speaks: What Does It Say? by Amy Rex Smith
For nurses, a critical piece of spiritual care is looking after our own spirituality. This author shares how centuries old spiritual exercises deepened her faith and better prepared her to incorporate spirituality into her nursing practice. She shares ten important lessons she learned from engaging in full Ignatian exercises.

Complex Patient Needs? Nursing Models Can Help! by Diana M. L. Newman
This hands-on case study example shows how two nursing models, the Neumans Systems Model and the Roy Adaptation Model can help nurses assess, diagnose and plan for spiritual care. You just might be surprised at how these nursing models can help you picture clients and organize and plan spiritual care! Overviews of the Neuman and Roy models are given.

Mentoring for Spiritual Caregiving by Cleda Meyer
Drawing from her research with 280 nursing students exploring factors that enable nursing students or new graduates to provide spiritual care, Meyer relays important information for nurses mentoring others in spiritual caregiving. She helps nurses understand that it is important to respect the beliefs of our patients without avoiding spirituality or religion.

Practicing
A Lesson Learned by Listening by Katie Jantzi
Shares how an elderly lady asks for her full attention rather than doing the "nursing things." This is a touching story and a lesson in listening.

FAQs in Spiritual Care
What If a Patient Refuses Spiritual Care? Mary T. Sweat
Based on the Jantzi story, A Lesson Learned by Listening, Sweat addresses questions about when a patient refuses spiritual care and provides direction aimed at discovering intrinsic faith.