Forum #6 Assignment Instructions

The Joint Commission (CAHOOT) requires that organization include a spiritual assessment as part of the patient assessment. They do not specify what must be asked, but they suggest following questions might be directed to the patient or his/her family:

• Who or what provides the patient with strength and hope?
• Does the patient use prayer in their life?
• How does the patient express their spirituality?
• How would the patient describe their philosophy of life?
• What type of spiritual/religious support does the patient desire?
• What is the name of the patient’s clergy, ministers, chaplains, pastor, rabbi?
• What does suffering mean to the patient?
• What does dying mean to the patient?
• What are the patient’s spiritual goals?
• Is there a role of church/synagogue in the patient’s life?
• How does your faith help the patient cope with illness?
• How does the patient keep going day after day?
• What helps the patient get through this health care experience?
• How has illness affected the patient and his/her family?

(http://www.jointcommission.org/standards_information/jcfaqdetails.aspx?StandardsFaqId=290&ProgramId=1 (Links to an external site.))

For this assignment reflect on how your practice area does or does not promote spiritual care. Here is what to include:

• How is a spiritual assessment routinely done on your unit?
• What policies do you have to support spiritual care
• What are the barriers or ethical issues surrounding spiritual care in your practice area?
• Give an example of a time when you felt that you or your unit did a really good job or a really bad job of supporting a patient’s spiritual needs?
• What changes, if any, do you feel are needed within your institution to better promote spiritual care?
• No SPA needed this week since this is a reflection.
• This paper will be approximately 2 pages in length

Module 6: Spirituality and Healing

1. Describe spirituality (c1)

2. Understand the nurse’s role in providing spiritual care (c5, 6)

3. Describe how spiritual care contributes to patient outcomes(c7)

Module 6: Readings

• Fountain chapters 24, 25, & 27
• Joint Commission Evaluating your spiritual assessment process PDF