scholarly journals Meanings and Interpretations of Spirituality in Nursing and Health

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasreen Lalani
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Personal Construct ◽  
Spiritual Experiences ◽  
Conceptual Clarity

Numerous spirituality models and tools have been developed in health education and research, but a gap still exists around the conceptual clarity and articulation of spirituality among nurses and healthcare providers. Nurses and healthcare providers still find it difficult to interpret and apply the concepts of spirituality in their practice settings. This paper provides a concept analysis of spirituality using the Walker and Avant method of conceptual analysis. Several databases including conceptual and empirical literature from various disciplines have been used. The defining attributes of spirituality included spirituality and religion as a separable or mutual construct, spirituality as a personal construct, wholeness and integration, meaning making and purpose, sense of connectedness and relationship, transcendence, inner source of power, energy, and strength. Major antecedents of spirituality found were faith, personal values, and belief systems, and life adversities. Consequences of spirituality included personal/spiritual growth and wellbeing, resilience, and religiousness. Spirituality is a unique and personal human experience, an individualised journey characterised by multiple experiential accounts such as meaning making, purpose, connectedness, wholeness and integration, energy, and transcendence. Spiritual experiences are often difficult to examine and measure using scientific tools and empirical language. Healthcare providers need to fully understand and apply spirituality and spiritual care aspects to provide holistic person-centred care.

Improving the questions we ask, with Psychology and Cognitive Conflict.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Buttliere
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Scientific Method ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Cognitive Conflict ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Science In Society

Over the last decade, there have been many suggestions to improve how scientists answer their questions, but far fewer attempt to improve the questions scientists are asking in the first place. The goal of the paper is then to examine and summarize synthesize the evidence on how to ask the best questions possible. First is a brief review of the philosophical and empirical literature on how the best science is done, which implicitly but not explicitly mentions the role of psychology and especially cognitive conflict. Then we more closely focus on the psychology of the scientist, finding that they are humans, engaged in a meaning making process, and that cognitive conflict is a necessary input for any learning or change in the system. The scientific method is, of course, a specialized meaning making process. We present evidence for this central role of cognitive conflict in science by examining the most discussed scientific papers between 2013 and 2017, which are, in general, controversial and about big problems (e.g., whether vaccines cause autism, how often doctors kill us with their mistakes). Toward the end we discuss the role of science in society, suggesting science itself is an uncertainty reducing and problem solving enterprise. From this basis we encourage scientists to take riskier stances on bigger topics, for the good of themselves and society generally.

An Exploratory Study of Spiritual Dimensions Among Nursing Students

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary A Wehmer ◽  
Mary T Quinn Griffin ◽  
Ann H. White ◽  
Joyce J. Fitzpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spiritual Practices ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Spiritual Experiences ◽  
Daily Spiritual Experiences ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Spiritual Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

This exploratory descriptive study of spiritual experiences, well-being, and practices was conducted among 126 nursing students. Participants reported a higher level of spiritual well-being and life scheme than self-efficacy for well-being and life-scheme. Thus, students appeared to view the world and their role in it slightly more positively than their ability to affect their lives and make decisions. The students reported the most frequent spiritual experiences as being thankful for blessings; the next most frequent spiritual experiences having a desire to be close to God, feeling a selfless caring for others, and finding comfort in one’s religion and spirituality. Students used both conventional and unconventional spiritual practices. Further study is necessary to study the relationship among spiritual practices, daily spiritual experiences, and spiritual well-being among nursing students and to evaluate these before and after implementation of specific educational offerings focused on spirituality and spiritual care in nursing.

Abstract WP404: Stroke Cognitive Recovery Model

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Alderman
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The Body ◽  
Patient Needs ◽  
Coordinated Care ◽  
Recovery Model ◽  
Cognitive Recovery ◽  
Transitional State

Background: After an acute stroke, 90% of patients have cognitive deficits; 50% remain impaired and 30% develop dementia within one year. Cognitive recovery may not occur without early and coordinated care. Many cognitive deficits, i.e. memory and neglect, are not addressed early, care is not coordinated, and depends on each institution’s guidelines. Nurses must consider all patient needs yet no holistic cognitive recovery model exists to guide them. Purpose: To create a holistic, post-stroke, patient-centered cognitive recovery model capable of guiding care. Methods: Concept synthesis is a new way of grouping or ordering information when relevant data is unclear or unknown. A concept synthesis was performed due to limitations in prior biomedical models, specifically in psychology and rehabilitation, which resulted in ill-defined terms and bias. Results: Cognitive recovery is defined as a transitional state in which a person’s cognitive abilities can be modified to approach pre-injury levels, by the interactions of personal capabilities and four encompassing Environments. Personal capabilities (acceptance, agency and congruence) are internally oriented forces which control self-care behavior. The Environments (resources or forces interacting to help/hinder recovery) are depicted as the Physical (the body), External (social support, therapists, etc.), Internal (psychiatric or emotional forces), and Created (belief systems, attitudes, etc.). Conclusions: When interactions between personal capabilities and Environments are adequate cognitive recovery will progress. Recovery should be comprehensive and nurses are uniquely qualified to ensure all aspects of the person are addressed. This model promotes collaboration among healthcare providers and guidance in identifying and addressing patient needs.

scholarly journals Sexual Interaction in Digital Contexts and Its Implications for Sexual Health: A Conceptual Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Döring ◽  
Nicole Krämer ◽  
Veronika Mikhailova ◽  
Matthias Brand ◽  
Tillmann H. C. Krüger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sexual Interaction ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
Sexual Encounters

Based on its prevalence, there is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms, opportunities and risks of sexual interaction in digital contexts (SIDC) that are related with sexual arousal. While there is a growing body of literature on SIDC, there is also a lack of conceptual clarity and classification. Therefore, based on a conceptual analysis, we propose to distinguish between sexual interaction (1) through, (2) via, and (3) with digital technologies. (1) Sexual interactions through digital technologies are face-to-face sexual interactions that (a) have been started digitally (e.g., people initiating face-to-face sexual encounters through adult dating apps) or (b) are accompanied by digital technology (e.g., couples augmenting their face-to-face sexual encounters through filming themselves during the act and publishing the amateur pornography online). (2) Sexual interactions via digital technology are technology-mediated interpersonal sexual interactions (e.g., via text chat: cybersex; via smartphone: sexting; via webcam: webcam sex/camming). (3) Sexual interactions with digital technology occur when the technology itself has the role of an interaction partner (e.g., sexual interaction with a sex robot or with a media persona in pornography). The three types of SIDC and their respective subtypes are explained and backed up with empirical studies that are grouped according to two major mediators: consent and commerce. Regarding the causes and consequences of the three types of SIDC we suggest a classification that entails biological, psychological, social, economic, and technological factors. Regarding implications of SIDC we suggest to focus on both opportunities and risks for sexual health. The proposed conceptual framework of SIDC is meant to inform future research.

Reinventing spiritual care in a secular context: the chaplain as entrepreneur

2020 ◽  
pp. 21-34
Author(s):  
Hetty Zock
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Religious Identity ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Community Care ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
The State ◽  
Care Community ◽  
Cultural Climate ◽  
Recent Developments

This paper discusses the state of chaplaincy—professional spiritual care—in the secularized context of the Netherlands. The present religious and cultural climate is sketched, as well as the organization of chaplaincy and the daily practices of chaplains. Two important recent developments are highlighted: the rise of non-denominational spiritual care and spiritual caregivers getting involved in extramural care (community care). Finally, the Guideline Spiritual Care—an interdisciplinary model for providing spiritual care—is presented. It is argued that chaplaincy in the Netherlands has gone through a process of transformation, in which the relation between the professional and the religious identity of the chaplain had to be redefined. Spiritual care may still be denominationally organized in the Netherlands, but the spiritual caregivers share a common professional identity as professionals who focus on meaning, belief systems, and ethics.

Framing the Issues

Journeys ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Susan L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Individual Agency ◽  
Violent Relationship

Chapter 1 explores the key theoretical and empirical literature that guides the research project. It describes the pushes and pulls that women experience in relationships characterized by IPV/A and it outlines what we understand women need in the short term and long term after the dissolution of a violent relationship. This chapter also incorporates a discussion of central thematic concepts such as growth, healing from trauma, individual agency and collective efficacy, identity, and meaning making. I challenge the false, or incomplete, assumption that there is some kind of closure for women after leaving a violent relationship. Finally, it looks at what it means to be “resilient.”

Advocacy for patients with neuropathic pain

2019 ◽  
pp. 347-360
Author(s):  
Ligia Onofrei ◽  
A. Gordon Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
System Level ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Key Issues

Pain is a nearly universal yet highly individual experience, with broad determinants including genetic factors, mechanism of injury, medical comorbidities, social aspects, and variations in coping styles and belief systems. In this chapter we examine how pain impacts individuals, healthcare providers who care for individuals with pain, and the overall health system with an emphasis on the importance of advocacy at each level. Key issues include the importance of continuing research in developing effective treatments with minimal side effects, improving access to and understanding of complementary and alternative treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioural therapy, developing continuing medical education programmes that empower physicians in the management of complex pain disorders, developing educational materials for patients that enable them to participate in the prevention and/or treatment of pain disorders, and integrating efforts within and across institutions and at a health system level.

Use of Spirituality to Make Sense of Loss by Homicide

2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282090742
Author(s):  
Shannon K. Johnson ◽  
Brooks Zitzmann
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Homicide Survivors ◽  
Spiritual Change ◽  
Crisis Of Meaning ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
Cognitive Meaning

This article presents a magnification of Stage 2 of the Theory of Post-Homicide Spiritual Change, a three-stage grounded theory of spiritual change after homicide (Theory of PHSC). Having endured the disintegration of their belief systems in the immediate aftermath of murder (Stage 1), survivors turn in Stage 2 to a more extended process of grappling with a crisis of meaning. This Stage 2 process is presented within the framework of the meaning making model, with attention to spiritual meaning making and transcendental experiences. Findings can help service providers support homicide survivors throughout an intermediary stage of bereavement that is marked by a sense of stagnation and diminished well-being. By accompanying survivors through the difficult meaning making efforts that characterize this stage, providers can help position them to break free of intensive cognitive meaning making and gain forward momentum in Stage 3 of the Theory of PHSC and can focus on aspects of life that can help them successfully make meaning of their loss while positioning them to gain forward momentum.

scholarly journals Out of Body, Loss of Self: Spiritual or Scary?

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 558
Author(s):  
Elpine M. de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Meaning Making ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Spiritual Experiences ◽  
Body Experience ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Loss Of Self ◽  
Out Of Body Experience ◽  
Mystical Experiences ◽  
Bodily State

The main aim of the present study is to investigate when “loss of self” results in scaredness or anxiety during or after an out-of body-experience (OBE). An OBE is an intense form of (bodily) self loss in which people have the impression that their self is located outside their body. In a sample of respondents reporting to have had an OBE (n = 171), anxiety and different conceptualizations of “self loss” were assessed. In addition, questions were asked about meaning making processes after the OBE. Results show that there was no relationship between anxiety and self loss with a relational component (i.e., mystical experiences, positive spiritual experiences). However, there was significantly more anxiety in respondents who (1) (have) experience(d) ego loss/deconstruction, (2) have difficulties to (re)turn their attention to an internal bodily state (low mindfulness) and/or (3) experience a lack of self-concept clarity. Respondents who did not succeed in making sense of their OBE experience more anxiety, more ego loss/deconstruction, lower mindfulness and higher self-unclarity. Finally, the article examines how respondents explain their OBE (by using, for instance, medical, spiritual or psychological explanations) and how and why respondents do (not) succeed in making sense of the OBE.

Making Sense of Loss: A Content Analysis of End-of-Life Practitioners' Therapeutic Approaches

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Currier ◽  
Jason M. Holland ◽  
Robert A. Neimeyer
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Therapeutic Procedures

Clinical professionals working in end-of-life (EOL) contexts are frequently relied upon to address questions of meaning with dying and bereaved persons. Similar to the gulf between researchers and practitioners besetting the larger healthcare community, the voices of EOL practitioners are often underrepresented in the empirical literature. This study aimed to further the dialogue in the field of thanatology by surveying and describing the therapeutic approaches that EOL practitioners most commonly report using to facilitate meaning-making. A total of 119 practitioners from a range of EOL disciplines were surveyed to write about their intervention strategies for helping clients/patients make sense of loss. Overall, participants discussed using 23 different therapeutic approaches that comprised three overarching categories: 1) presence of the helping professional; 2) elements of the process; and 3) therapeutic procedures. Importantly, the results also indicated that practitioners from the different EOL occupations are converging on many of the same strategies for promoting meaning-making. Implications for future research on evaluating the effectiveness of meaning-making interventions are also discussed.

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