How to write a nursing Spiritual Needs Analysis Case study (Solved)

How to write a nursing Spiritual Needs Analysis Case study (Solved)

Case Study: Healing and Autonomy

Mike and Joanne are the parents of James and Samuel, identical twins born 8 years ago. James is currently suffering from acute glomerulonephritis, kidney failure. James was originally brought into the hospital for complications associated with a strep throat infection. The spread of the A streptococcus infection led to the subsequent kidney failure. James’s condition was acute enough to warrant immediate treatment. Usually cases of acute glomerulonephritis caused by strep infection tend to improve on their own or with an antibiotic. However, James also had elevated blood pressure and enough fluid buildup that required temporary dialysis to relieve.
The attending physician suggested immediate dialysis. After some time of discussion with Joanne, Mike informs the physician that they are going to forego the dialysis and place their faith in God. Mike and Joanne had been moved by a sermon their pastor had given a week ago, and also had witnessed a close friend regain mobility when she was prayed over at a healing service after a serious stroke. They thought it more prudent to take James immediately to a faith healing service instead of putting James through multiple rounds of dialysis. Yet, Mike and Joanne agreed to return to the hospital after the faith healing services later in the week, and in hopes that James would be healed by then.
Two days later the family returned and was forced to place James on dialysis, as his condition had deteriorated. Mike felt perplexed and tormented by his decision to not treat James earlier. Had he not enough faith? Was God punishing him or James? To make matters worse, James\’s kidneys had deteriorated such that his dialysis was now not a temporary matter and was in need of a kidney transplant. Crushed and desperate, Mike and Joanne immediately offered to donate one of their own kidneys to James, but they were not compatible donors. Over the next few weeks, amidst daily rounds of dialysis, some of their close friends and church members also offered to donate a kidney to James. However, none of them were tissue matches.
James’s nephrologist called to schedule a private appointment with Mike and Joanne. James was stable, given the regular dialysis, but would require a kidney transplant within the year. Given the desperate situation, the nephrologist informed Mike and Joanne of a donor that was an ideal tissue match, but as of yet had not been considered—James’s brother Samuel.
Mike vacillates and struggles to decide whether he should have his other son Samuel lose a kidney or perhaps wait for God to do a miracle this time around. Perhaps this is where the real testing of his faith will come in? Mike reasons, “This time around it is a matter of life and death. What could require greater faith than that?”

Doing a Culturally Sensitive Spiritual Assessment: Recognizing Spiritual Themes and Using the HOPE Questions | Journal of Ethics | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)
End of Life and Sanctity of Life, Commentary 1 | Journal of Ethics | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)
Assessing the spiritual needs of patients – ProQuest

 

SOLUTION TO THE DISCUSSION

Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean a disrespect of a patient\’s autonomy? Explain your rationale.

States have traditionally recognized the right of parents to make healthcare decisions for their children on the presumption that minors lack the experience to make rational decisions. Mike is observed to make irrational decisions regarding James’ treatment despite having the right experience. I believe the physician should advise Mike to reconsider his decisions because they are too religious. Mike believes that prayer and believing in the power of healing will help James get over the problem of kidney failure. The physician has the scientific knowledge to understand the consequences of delaying a kidney transplant and understands that prayer will not reverse the patient’s condition. The physician should try to explain to mike that healing is a process and prayer works alongside other interventions like seeking medical attention.

Spirituality is a key component of overall well-being and it assumes multidimensional and unique functions. Although religious beliefs are important during seeking medical care, reliance on spirituality can impair healing alongside other aspects like communication and satisfaction (Anadarajah, 2005). The physician should help Mike to understand that satisfaction does not only result from religious beliefs but other human-based efforts. Perhaps, the physician should consult with the chaplain to help counsel Mike and Joanne about considering the option of a kidney transplant.

How ought the Christian think about sickness and health?

The aspects of sickness and health can be viewed differently depending on one’s denomination. The Bible admits that there is sickness, so is death and dying. Biblically, sickness is a consequence of sin, and every man at one stage will fall ill and die (Tearfund, 2017). Consequently, the human body is corruptible and is subject to sickness and death. However, the sickness itself is not a sin and people should seek medical attention alongside spiritual interventions when sick. Additionally, Christians understand that health is important and that is why the bible advises people to rest and keep fit (Koenig, 2012). Prayer is important during sickness for Christians and part of restoring health is through prayer.

How should a Christian think about medical intervention?

Most Christians believe that the primary method of healing is through prayer with some being against modern medical treatments (Tearfund, 2017). However, the increasing number of diseases and chronic conditions have changed the Christian view on medical interventions. Today, most Christians have considered medicine a gift of God that offers relief to suffering and illness. Christians should accept medical interventions and pray for healing through the use of medicine. Human beings are created in the image of God and the power to provide healing through medicine comes from God. While prayer is essential to healing, Christians should seek medical intervention and have faith that God will provide healing through medicine.

What should Mike as a Christian do?

There are some Christians who believe that seeking medical attention shows a lack of faith in God. Praying alone cannot protect an individual from illness because of the many factors involved. Mike should continue praying for God’s guidance while allowing the doctors to provide treatment. The Bible dictates that seeking help from God is important but does not deny seeking medical attention (Koenig, 2012). Mike should also consult with his wife concerning the course of treatment for their son. The option of having a kidney transplant seems the only viable choice available to heal James.

How should he reason about trusting God and treating James in relation to what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James\’s care?

God gave human beings the brain to think and the ability to create medicines that help in fighting disease. Mike should reason that human beings have an input when it comes to healing. While prayer and having faith are important, the bible supports the use of healers to alleviate suffering. Taking an example of Jesus’ ministry, he acknowledged that the healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick do (Tearfund, 2017). Earthy interventions can be crucial in proving remedies to diseases and God’s guidance is required to choose the right doctors to provide healing. Additionally, Mike should consider the consequences of relying on his faith rather than doing everything to treat his son. He should take the advice of considering a kidney transplant as given by the physician.

How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike determine appropriate interventions for James and for his family or others involved in his care?

Given its pervasiveness, spirituality commonly affects patient encounters. Spiritual assessment is an important component that determines the relationship between the patient and the provider while giving the physicians a decision-making platform. While conducting the assessment, the physician should be aware of their own beliefs and how they might affect their view of the patient (Saguil & Phelps, 2012). Special tools like the FICA spiritual history assessment tool should be used to guide the physician in understanding the patient’s faith. Determining the patient’s spiritual needs can help the physician understand the rationale behind the choices made. The physician can use the information to inquire about the religious beliefs of the patient’s denomination while clarifying irrational beliefs that may impact the patient’s health (Anadarajah, 2005). The physician can be able to obtain the sources of faith for the patient and their view on medical care.

Understanding the spiritual beliefs of the patient can help the physician assess how they affect standard medical practice. Beliefs that contradict the standard medical care to patients should be discussed and the patient informed of the consequences (Koenig, 2012). A spiritual assessment can help the physician advise Mike on the essence of a kidney transplant as a measure to alleviate James’ suffering. Actions like physician-led prayer can help convince Mike that the physician also beliefs in God and at the same time uses God’s guidance to heal his people.

 

References

Anadarajah G. (2005). Doing a culturally sensitive spiritual assessment: Recognizing spiritual themes and using the HOPE questions. The Virtual Mentor : VM, 7(5), virtualmentor.2005.7.5.cprl1-0505. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2005.7.5.cprl1-

Koenig H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: the research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 278730. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730

Reichman, R. E. (2005). End of life and sanctity of life, commentary 1. AMA Journal of Ethics, 7(5), 342-351.https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2005.7.5.ccas2-0505

Saguil, A., & Phelps, K. (2012). The spiritual assessment. American Family Physician, 86(6), 546–550. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0915/p546.html

Tearfund. (2017). Bible study: Should Christians go to doctors? https://learn.tearfund.org/en/resources/footsteps/footsteps-101-110/footsteps-102/bible-study-should-christians-go-to-doctors

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