Interview an RN

how do you assess and address the spiritual needs of your patients?upon admit, we have a section in our computer that has questions regarding faith and whether the patient has any specific religious preferences or needs. in addition, we can contact their own clergy for them if they would like them involved in their stay. we also have a house chaplain. for general, non-specific "spirituality", i try to be a good listener, recognize when my patients are feeling emotionally distressed, and encourage them to share their fears and anxieties.

what obstacles do you encounter when you making a spiritual assessment of your patients?i'm icu, so quite frequently there's some sort of communication barrier, be it mechanical ventilation or mental status issues.

what tools do you use in assessing your patient's spirituality?i don't use any specific tools other than the admit questionnaire. i guess i just rely on my own sense of empathy.

do you feel that spiritual assessment is important for the care of your patients? why?absolutely. it's important to know the source of strength from which a patient draws. for some, it's faith in god. for others, it's love of family or significant other. i think it's very important to recognize that spirituality is not just about religious faith, but about the person as a whole. even an atheist has a sense of spirituality. i should know. i am one.

how did you come to recognize your own spiritual biases?i have a tendency to be dismissive of religion in my own life and find it uncomfortable and "phony" and a waste of time when people try to convince me otherwise. i realized this when i found myself rolling my eyes at every effort my born-again christian brother made to convince me that his way is the only way, and when my husband's coworkers do the same. however, i do not think that a patient or person in need is someone with whom i need to have that debate. i adapt to their beliefs and put on a supportive face and attitude. they don't need to hear my belief system, they need support to use their own beliefs to get through this time.

Thank you Julie!!