Running head: SPIRITUALITY: QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1

Spirituality: Questions for Reflection

Charmaine Enerio

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

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Questions for Reflection

Caring for the “whole person” includes paying attention to and nurturing the person’s religious

and/or spiritual needs. Sometimes, a healthcare provider’s own views can get in the way of

providing compassionate care. Take a moment to reflect upon your views and any ways in which

they may interfere with your ability to provide care. If you are nonreligious, do you sometimes

overlook the importance of religion to others? If you are extremely religious, do you have

difficulty relating to someone who disagrees with your views?

As a Christian, I do have my biases against atheists and other religious factions. I have

this preconceived idea that they are “lost” in their spirituality and need some form of help or

“enlightening”. I am also not in agreement with many of Catholicism’s ways and rituals on how

they practice Christianity. These biases when left unchecked can potentially jeopardize the care I

give to my patients. I may not be able to view my clients holistically - physical, spiritual, mental,

and emotional. I may also have the tendency to provide better care for patients who have the

same religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs as mine. If I am being close-minded, my views can

also limit the treatment plans I have for patients.

I may not agree with all other people’s religious beliefs but that doesn’t mean that I do

not respect their views or the person himself/herself. I usually do not have a hard time relating to

people who have other spiritual views because I respect their own beliefs and practices. Each

person embodies his or her own spiritual dimension that energizes, motivates, and influences

their life (Young & Koopsen, 2011). Spirituality is something unique to every individual and

there is no wrong or right belief. It is a highly personal experience built through time, life’s

experiences, and social and cultural values.

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Your patient or clients asks you to pray with her, but you know your religion and religious

beliefs are quite different from hers. What do you do?

If a patient asks me to pray with her, I would accept the invitation even if my religious

belief is different from hers. Spiritual care is of primary importance in nursing and is a main

consideration in holistic care (Taylor, 2002). As a spiritual care provider, I believe that prayer

can be used as an intervention in this case and not as a form of proselytism. It is important that

nurses are aware of their own spirituality in order to be authentically present for clients who ask

for prayers (Winslow & Winslow, 2003). In order to provide respectful spiritual care, healthcare

providers need to pay attention to their client’s spiritual needs (Winslow & Winslow, 2003). As a

person, prayer is an important aspect in my health and well-being. With this conviction in mind,

I am able to respect my patient’s needs for prayers and participate in the process without feeling

guilty of violating my own beliefs. I would also provide her with the option for a chaplain visit to

help with her spiritual needs.

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References

Taylor, E. (2002). Spiritual care: Nursing theory, research, and practice. Saddle River, NJ:

Prentice-Hall

Winslow, G. R., & Winslow, B. W. (2003). Examining the ethics of praying with patients.

Holistic Nursing Practice, 17(4), 170-177. doi:10.1097/00004650-200307000-00002

Young, C. & Koopsen, C. (2011). Spirituality, health, and healing: An integrative approach (2nd

ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.