SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT

RELIGION
Definition:
Rituals, practices that involves a search for the sacred such as God, Allah, etc. that
are shared within a group.

Defining Characteristics:
- Formal
- Organized
- Group- oriented
- Ritualistic
- Objective, as in easily measurable (Church attendance)

SPIRITUALITY
Definition:
A search for meaning and purpose in life, which seeks to understand life’s
ultimate questions in relation to the sacred.

Defining Characteristics:
- Informal
- Non- organized
- Experience
- Subjective, as in difficult to consistently measure (daily spiritual experiences,
spiritual well- being)

SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT
Definition:
Active and on- going conversation that assesses the spiritual needs of the patient.

Defining Characteristics:
- Formal or Informal
- Respectful
- Non- biased

SPIRITUAL CARE
Definition:
Addressing the spiritual needs of the client as they unfold through spiritual
assessment.

Defining Characteristics:
- Individualistic
- Client oriented
- Collaborative
 MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS AND COMMON HEALTH BELIEFS

RELIGION OVERVIEW BELIEF END OF LIFE NUTRITION

Buddhism Suffering is a part Prayer and Life is the Many are strict
of human meditation are opportunity to vegetarians.
existence, but the used for cultivate Some holy days
inward death of cleansing and understanding, include fasting
the self and healing. compassion, and from dawn to
senses leads to a Terminal illness joy for self and dusk but
state beyond may be seen as a others. Death is considerations are
suffering and unique associated with allowed for the
existence. opportunity to rebirth. Serene frail and elderly
reflect on life’s surroundings are for whom fasting
ultimate important to the could create
meaning of one’s dignity of dying. problems.
relation with the
world.

Hinduism Nirvana or Illness is the Death marks a Many but not all
oneness with God result of past and passage because are vegetarians.
is the primary current life the soul has no Many holy days
purpose of the actions or beginning or end. include fasting.
religion. Many Karma. The right At death the soul
have an altar in hand is seen as may be reborn as
their home for holy, and eating another person and
worship. and intervention one’s Karma is
such as IV needs carried forward.
to be with the Holy water and
right hand to basil leaves maybe
promote clean placed on the
healing. body; the deceased
arms should be
straightened.

Islam Mohammed is Allah is in All out comes, Eating pork or

believed to be the control of the whether death or ingestion of
greatest of all beginning and healing, are seen alcohol is
prophets. end of life. as predetermined prohibited.
Worship occurs by Allah. Dying During Ramadan,
in a mosque and clients are neither food nor
prayer is done supposed to face drink is taken
five times a day, east and to die between sunrise
dawn, sunrise facing east. Prayer and sunset,
noon, afternoon, is offered but to be except frail, ill
sunset and done by an Imam and young
evening (Sala). It or Religious children
 is done facing Leader.
east towards
Mecca. Women
are to be modest
and are not view
men, other than
their husbands,
naked.

Christianit Beliefs focus Illness is a Miracles are No special food

y around the Old natural process believed to be beliefs.
and New for the body and granted through
Testament of the even as a testing prayers.
Bible and view of faith. Others
Jesus as the may see illness
Savior. Prayers as a curse
may be directed brought on by
to one or all of living outside the
the Holy Trinity laws of God.
which includes
God, Holy Spirit
and Jesus.

Judaism They are guided Restrictions Psalms and the last Orthodox or
with a code of related to work prayer of Kosher involves
ethics with four on holy days are confession or no mixing of
major groupings: removed to save Vidui are held at meat with dairy;
Reform, a life. bedside. And separate cooking
Reconstructionist death, arms are not and eating
, Conservative crossed; any utensils are used
and Orthodox. clothing or for food
The clergy are bandages with preparation and
known as Rabbi. client’s blood consumption.
should be prepared Many holy days
for burial with the include a fasting
person. period.
 SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES

NON-FORMAL
Definition:
It utilizes asking open- ended questions and allowing the client to disclose
pertinent information.

Example: FICA Spiritual Assessment Tool

F: Faith and Beliefs
I: Importance and Influence
C: Community
A: Address

FORMAL
Definition:
Spiritual assessment is done with the aid of pen and checklist which is given to
the patient for him/her to answer.

Examples:
- Daily Spiritual Experience Scale
- Brief Religious Coping Questionnaire (RCOPE)