Deck 21: Spiritual Health

Question 1

A nurse who works in a neonatal intensive care unit is caring for a critically ill infant with a poor prognosis.She is Christian and feels responsible to care for both the physical and spiritual needs of the infant and his parents.What is the best statement for the nurse to make to the parents of the infant?

A) "You should have the child baptized so that its soul will be saved."
B) "Would you like me to call the chaplain to christen your child at the bedside?"
C) "What can I do to support your spiritual needs?"
D) "I have asked my pastor to stop by and talk to you."

Answer 1

"What can I do to support your spiritual needs?"

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who states that he does not believe in the existence of God.The nurse realizes that this person:

A) is not a spiritual person.
B) is an agnostic.
C) believes that people bring meaning into the world.
D) finds meaning in life through work and relationships.

Answer 2

finds meaning in life through work and relationships.

Question 3

Interventions a nurse can use to establish presence with a patient include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Giving attention
B) Answering questions
C) Listening
D) Administering medication
E) Speaking with the family

Answer 3

Giving attention
Answering questions
Listening

Question 4

An elderly patient is dying,and begins talking to loved ones who have died before him.The nurse feels a sense of inner peace as his patient quietly dies.What is the best term for this feeling of peace?

A) Self-transcendence
B) Intrapersonal connectedness
C) Interpersonal connectedness
D) Transpersonal connectedness

Question 5

A patient refuses to remove a specific spiritual garment for daily bathing.The most appropriate action for the nurse would be to:

A) remove the article anyway because the garment hinders daily care delivery.
B) respect the patient's wishes and work around it.
C) explain to the patient that the garment has no real spiritual value.
D) identify the refusal as a sign of spiritual distress.

Question 6

A patient who has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer states that he does not believe in God,but he has had a meaningful life by contributing to the lives of those around him.This person is most likely which of the following?

A) Buddhist
B) Christian
C) Agnostic
D) Atheist

Question 7

A patient has been diagnosed with a terminal disease.Hope may be used effectively with this type of patient.Nurses can support a patient's use of hope because hope provides a:

A) system of organized beliefs and worship.
B) belief in a higher power, spirit guide, God, or Allah.
C) cultural connectedness, structure, and guidance in difficult times.
D) motivation to achieve and the resources to use toward that achievement.

Question 8

To assess,evaluate,and support a patient's spirituality the best action a nurse should take includes:

A) recognizing that spirituality does not enhance therapeutic relationships.
B) performing a definitive spiritual assessment once because spirituality does not vary.
C) focusing the assessment on religious doctrine and faith.
D) remembering that spirituality is very subjective.

Question 9

When caring for patients,a nurse must understand the difference between religion and spirituality.Religious care helps patients maintain their faithfulness to:

A) their belief systems and worship practices.
B) a relationship to a higher being or life force.
C) a sense of connectedness.
D) the awareness of one's inner self.

Question 10

A nurse is caring for a 64-year-old patient who has survived cardiopulmonary resuscitation after a triple coronary artery bypass graft surgery.To help this patient cope with this experience,what is the best thing for the nurse to do?

A) Recommend that the patient not discuss the experience with family.
B) Assume that the near death experience was a positive experience.
C) Explain that people who have not had that experience will not understand.
D) Explore what happened with the patient.

Question 11

A nurse is caring for a patient with a debilitating chronic illness.The patient mentions several times that faith would guide her healing.The nurse knows that faith can best be defined as a:

A) system of organized beliefs and worship.
B) relationship with a higher power, authority, or spirit.
C) source of energy needed to cope with difficult situations.
D) multidimensional concept that gives comfort while a person endures hardship.