N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice

N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice Study Guide spiritual contentment, and religious practice are all a part of spiritual well-being. Spiritual distress is an alteration in spiritual health displayed by anxiety, guilt, loss, despair, anger, spiritual pain, or alienation. An individual experiencing spiritual distress has an impaired ability to experience and find meaning and purpose in life. Religion is an organized system of beliefs about a higher power represented by set forms of worship, spiritual practices, and codes of conduct. Spiritual health is an important component in a person’s overall health and should not be overlooked. The nurse must assess and be aware of spiritual practices in order to enhance patient care. Spiritual practices include: • Holy days and sacred writings • Sacred symbols • Prayers and meditation • Beliefs related to diet and nutrition • Beliefs related to dress • Beliefs related to birth • Beliefs related to death 6.6 Complementary and Alternative Therapies A patient may choose to supplement their healthcare with complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) as a more holistic approach. Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy are all types of alternative medicine. Examples of complementary therapies include: • Mind-body therapies (meditation, prayer, and biofeedback) • Biologically-based therapies (nutrition and herbal medicines) • Manipulative and body-based therapies (massage and chiropractic therapy) • Energy therapies (therapeutic touch and Reiki) 6.7 The Nursing Process Assessment The astute nurse will assess eight basic areas that reflect cultural variation: • History of the origins of the patients’ culture: Questions to ask might include: Where were your parents and grandparents born? If outside the United States, when did they come to this country? What diseases are common in your culture? • Interpersonal relationships, including family patterns, demeanor, and roles and relationships: Questions to ask might include: How many brothers and sisters do you have? What was your birth order (first born, last born)? When you were growing up, who lived with you? How often do you visit family members who live outside yourhome? Who lives with you now? Who is the decision maker in your family?

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