Spirituality and Healing

What is Spirituality? A sense of presence higher than human.

“Healing is a work of spirit.” Rachel Remen

Albert Einstein “Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a Spirit is manifest in the Laws of the Universe….a Spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we, with our modest powers, must feel humble.”

Spiritual well-being: Enhances the immune system Promotes healing Diminishes stress hormones Delays disease progression Gives hope and sense of purpose Correlates strongly with physical health

Faith vs. Religion Faith: a human universal Religion: an organized practice of faith Faith: the making of personal meaning Religion: the corporate expression of faith Faith: changes with human development and life experience Religion: based on cumulative tradition of worship methods

Faith gives hope. “ Man can cope with anything, if he can find meaning in it.” Victor Frankl “Man’s Search for Meaning”

Hemingway “….the world breaks everyone and some of us are strong at the broken places.”

The Power of Prayer Effectively elicits the relaxation response Positively impacts medical outcomes Promotes happiness and hope Effects are supported by research

The Power of Religious Practice “What is to one man a coincidence is to another a miracle.” Richard Selzer “Mortal Lessons: Notes on the Art of Surgery”

The role of the nurse It is NOT: An imposition of one’s beliefs on another An opportunity for evangelization Judgmental of differences in practices

The role of the nurse: Requires communication skills Demands sensitivity & intuition Is founded on genuine caring Incorporates respect for all human beings

To support spiritually: Assess the client’s faith and beliefs Evaluate the extent of the client’s support system Determine the client’s religious practices Demonstrate support and make referrals

Religious practices impacting health care: Judaism : Kosher dietary restrictions Hinduism/Buddism : vegetarians Jehovah’s Witnesses : no blood transfusions Roman Catholic : infant baptism/communion/end of life traditions Islam : eating pork is prohibited; end of life traditions Christian Scientist : use prayer for healing

“My Grandfather’s Blessings” Rachel Remen “ It is as important to care for people’s souls as it is for their hearts”

Mother Teresa (No Greater Love) “What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small drops of oil. What are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting.”