Spirituality in Health and Nursing Care

For more information, or to purchase these DVD's,
please contact Professor Doreen Westera here.

Spirituality in Health Care (Length: 29 minutes)

This video focuses on the concept of spirituality. Various definitions of spirituality are examined. Through a variety of interviews, common expressions of spirituality, such as religion, art, music, nature, and writing are explored. The place of spirituality in health care is identified, as well as some implications for practice for health professionals.

Spiritual Care In Nursing Practice (Length: 27 minutes)

This video examines the rationale and the place of spirituality in nursing practice through the eyes of a critical care nurse. Guidelines for incorporating spiritual care into practice are explored, as well as nursing skills necessary for effective spiritual care. Spiritual care interventions are identified, including the connection between nursing and pastoral care professionals. Challenges to incorporating spiritual care into nursing practice are also examined.

Spiritual Assessment in Health Care (Length: 32 minutes)

This video focuses on the place of spiritual assessment in health care. Through interviews with two people experiencing chronic health problems, the video explores questions for clinicians to use to assess the spiritual dimension. Guidelines for health professionals in conducting a spiritual assessment are also explored.

Spirituality in Parkinson's (Length: 29 minutes)

Through the voices of two people with Parkinson’s disease, the place of spirituality in Parkinson’s is explored in this video. The meaning of Parkinson’s in the person’s life is also explored, including the impact of the person’s spirituality in managing and coping. How spirituality can be a resource for those living with Parkinson’s disease is examined, for example, in developing meaning and purpose, and in engaging in spiritual or religious practices which enhance coping. Implications for health professionals are also identified.

Spirituality in Addictions (Length: 30 minutes)

Through the comments of an addictions counsellor and a married couple who have each struggled with addictions, the place of spirituality and religion in the context of addictions is explored in this video. How addictions impact a person’s whole being is examined, as well as how spiritual and religious beliefs and practices help in addictions recovery. The effect of addictions on spiritual needs is described, such as the need for meaning and purpose and the need for love and relatedness. The concept of spiritual growth through recovery is discussed. Implications for clinicians are also included.

Spirituality in Arthritis (Length: 26 minutes)

Through the comments of a woman with arthritis, the place of spirituality in the management of arthritis is explored in this video. Spiritual needs are also addressed, such as the need for meaning and purpose, hope, and love and relatedness. How clinicians can integrate spirituality into their work with arthritic clients is described, including assessing clients’ spiritual and religious beliefs and practices, and assisting them to meet their spiritual needs.

Spirituality in Children and Adolescents: Implications for Clinicians (Length: 32 minutes)

Through the comments of four professionals, the place of spirituality in the care of children and adolescents is explored in this video. Childhood and adolescent spirituality is discussed, including the impact of developmental stages on spirituality. Examples from practice are given to illustrate the importance of clinicians incorporating spirituality into their practice. How spiritual needs are manifested in children and adolescents is described, as well as how spirituality and religion are resources for children, adolescents and their families.

Spirituality in HIV/AIDS (Length: 26 minutes)

Through the comments of a professional who works with people afflicted with HIV/AIDS, as well as a woman who is HIV-positive, this video focuses on the place of spirituality in HIV/AIDS. How a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS impacts the whole person is described, including the spiritual dimension of the person. How HIV/AIDS impacts the spiritual need for meaning and purpose, the spiritual need for forgiveness, and the spiritual need for love and relatedness are explored. The impact of spiritual beliefs and practices in the management of HIV/AIDS is discussed, as well as how spirituality and religion are resources for those dealing with HIV/AIDS. Implications for clinicians are described.

Spirituality in Mental Health Care (Length: 26 minutes)

This video focusses on two clients: one diagnosed with schizophrenia and one diagnosed with manic depressive illness. It explains the rationale for incorporating spirituality into mental health care. Expressions of spirituality that nurture mental health are described. How a mental illness could impact a person's life, including the spiritual dimension, is explored. Unique aspects relative to mental illness that have implications for spiritual care are discussed. Key spiritual issues and needs experienced by persons who have a mental illness are identified. The role of the nurse in providing spiritual care to persons experiencing mental illness is illustrated throughout the video.

Spirituality in Palliative Care (Length: 21 minutes)

This video illustrates how death and dying impacts on both a client's spirituality and family members' spirituality. Key spiritual issues and needs that come to the forefront for palliative care clients and their families are also identified. Spiritual resources that can be used in the journey through the dying process are explored. How a person's/family's spirituality may impact on responses to death is presented. The role of the nurse in providing spiritual care to palliative care clients and their families is illustrated throughout the video.

Spiritual Care and Life Threatening Illness (Length: 22 minutes)

This video illustrates how life threatening illness could impact a person's spirituality. Spiritual issues and needs are explored, as well as how a person's spirituality could impact upon his response to life threatening illness. Spiritual resources that can be used to deal with such illnesses are identified. All of these aspects are explored in an interview with a young adult diagnosed with leukemia. The role of the nurse in providing spiritual care to persons experiencing life threatening illness is illustrated throughout the video.

Spiritual Care in Gerontological Nursing (Length: 19 minutes)

Illustrated in the lives of two elderly people, this video focuses on how spirituality is expressed and nurtured in older adults. Key spiritual issues and spiritual needs are examined, including those pertaining to the cognitively impaired older adult. Qualities of the nurse or within the nurse-client relationship that are conducive to providing spiritual care to older adults is portrayed.

Spiritual Care & Chronic Health Problems (Length: 19 minutes)

This video identifies key characteristics of chronic health problems and how those characteristics could impact on a person's spirituality. Spiritual practices that nurture spirituality are described. Key spiritual issues and needs experienced by persons with chronic health problems are identified and illustrated by a man who is quadraplegic and a woman with fibromyalgia. The role of the nurse in providing spiritual care to persons experiencing chronic health problems is illustrated throughout the video.