CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

ANSWER RATIONALE

1. A Nurses need an awareness of their own spirituality to provide appropriate and relevant spiritual
care to others.

2. B Agnostics discover meaning in what they do or how they live because they find no ultimate
meaning for the way things are. They believe that people bring meaning to what they do.

3. B When a person has the attitude of something to look forward to, hope is present.

4. D These statements are reasonable and are not contradictory. Many people tend to use the terms
spirituality and religion interchangeably.

5. B Spirituality is a complex concept that is unique to each individual. Religion refers to the system
of organized beliefs and worship that a person practices to outwardly express spirituality.

6. C Spiritual care helps people identify meaning and purpose in life, look beyond the present, and
maintain personal relationships, as well as a relationship with a higher being or life force.

7. C The nurse’s relationship with the patient allows the nurse to understand the patient’s priorities.
Spiritual priorities do not need to be sacrificed for physical care priorities.

8. C Establishing presence is part of the art of nursing. Presence involves “being with” a patient
versus “doing for” a patient. Demonstrate a caring presence by listening to the patient’s
concerns and willingly involving family in discussions about the patient’s health. The nurse
should support patients as they make decisions about their health.

9. A,B,C,D One critical thinking model for spiritual health evaluation lists the evaluation process as
including a review of the patient’s self-perception regarding spiritual health, the patient’s view
of his/her purpose in life, discussion with the family and close associates about the patient’s
connectedness, and determining whether the patient’s expectations are being met. Attainment
of spiritual health is a lifelong goal.

10. D A decreased appetite and level of energy and not wanting to be involved in care are signs of
hopelessness. The nurse should assess for risk of the patient harming himself or others. The
nurse should set goals that are important to the patient.