The nurse is caring for a patient with depression who expresses ...

[s.tung]

The nurse is caring for a patient with depression who expresses hopelessness. How can the nurse use spirituality to comfort the patient? Select all that apply.
 
  1. Provide a quiet place for pray or for reading religious texts.
  2. Schedule activities around designated times for prayer or religious observances.
  3. Encourage the patient to use his or her beliefs to deal with the feelings of hopelessness.
  4. Encourage the patient to seek the reason for the feelings of hopelessness by attending group therapy.
  5. Suggest the patient discuss the reason for the feelings of hopelessness with the patient's clergy member or spiritual advisor.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who is suffering from severe depression. How can the nurse best help the patient find meaning in the experience of suffering from mental illness?
 
  1. Suggest answers when the patient questions the meaning of life.
  2. Listen and be present when the patient questions the meaning of life.
  3. Listen and offer answers when the patient questions the meaning of life.
  4. Encourage the patient to discuss well-formulated answers to the meaning of life.

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Answer to Question 1

Answer: 1, 2, 3
Explanation: Nursing interventions that can promote spirituality as a comfort to patients with any type of illness include providing a quiet place for prayer or reading religious texts; scheduling activities around designated times for prayer or religious observances; and encouraging patients to use their beliefs to deal with feelings of hopelessness. Although referrals to group therapy or a spiritual advisor may be helpful to patients, these actions do not involve the nurse's use of spirituality in providing comfort to patients.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 2
Explanation: Helping patients find meaning in the experience of the suffering of mental illness is an important nursing intervention that promotes comfort to patients who are in distress. The nurse simply needs to listen and be present when the patient questions the meaning of life. The nurse does not, however, need to suggest answers when the patient questions the meaning of life. Also, the nurse should not expect or encourage the patient to provide well-formulated answers to the meaning of life.

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