Quiz 41: Spirituality

Spirituality is the likelihood to seek purpose and meaning in life, acceptance and inner peace, harmony and forgiveness, hope, beauty, and many more. Religion is related to the ritualistic practices and organized beliefs. Both are generally considered as separate entities. Even due to that, they are inherently intertwined. Most religions deal with the spiritual side of the human thinking. Religions have their theories about spiritualities. Therefore, though they can be different from each other, but they are mostly interrelated. Spirituality overlaps with various other concepts that are often studied along with the spirituality. Religion is a well-defined concept related to a creator. So, a spiritual person may, or may not believe in God. The distinction is based on the views of the client. In the given case, the client is specifically talking about, and not believing in God. Therefore, he still might be spiritual despite not being religious. As we have discussed, spirituality can be separate from the religion. Generally, religious people tend to be spiritual more, than the non-believers or the atheists.

Eldercare is described as the fulfillment of the special requirements as well as the needs, which are unique to the older people. This broad term includes the long term care, hospice care, home care, and assisted living. To provide an ultimate care, a nurse must not only look after a client's physical need but also take care of the client's inner soul and the self. There is an ample amount of evidence to relate physical health to spiritual health. Assessment for depression, and diagnosing and documenting the client is clubbed under assessment. Keeping the client busy with social activities is also not the rightful action to make anything meaningful. Hence, the options 1, 2 and 3 are incorrect. Exploring the client's desired legacy is a way to help him realize the true meaning of life. If the nurse also supports the ideologies of the older adult or makes meaningful conversation with the older adult, he might feel better, and comforted. Hence, the correct answer is option .

Spiritual distress is described as "disturbances in the value system or belief, which imparts the relief, ambition, meaning, and strength of life". The NANDA (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association) International classifies the characteristics of spiritual distress. They use the criterion, whether they reflect an impaired connection with others, self, art, nature, literature, or power than greater than self. Some of the characteristics can be mentioned as follows: 1. The individual expresses a lack of desire, inadequate acceptance of the self, and meaning of life. 2. The individual expresses the feeling of being abandoned. 3. The individual shows reluctance to interact with other people. 4. The individual exhibits certain and sudden changes in the spirituality. 5. The individual makes a request or refuses to meet a spiritual leader. 6. The individual exhibits no interest in nature or spirituality. In the given case, the client is expressing a lack of hope and meaning of life. He is thinking that his life is useless now. He thinks that he is being punished for his non-religious beliefs. Therefore, these feelings of the client suggest that he is suffering from the spiritual distress. It is obvious for him to be spiritually distressed when he knows that AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) has no cure, and he can only prolong his life with extra precautions and medications.