Nurse's Pocket Guide

Difficulty adhering to prescribed religious beliefs and rituals
(e.g., religious ceremonies, dietary regulations, clothing,
prayer, worship/religious services, private religious behaviors/reading
religious materials/media, holiday observances,
meetings with religious leaders)
Desired Outcomes/Evaluation
Criteria—Client Will:
• Express ability to once again participate in beliefs and rituals
of desired religion.
• Discuss beliefs/values about spiritual/religious issues.
• Attend religious/worship services of choice as desired.
• Verbalize concerns about end-of-life issues and fear of death.
Actions/Interventions
NURSING PRIORITY NO.1.To assess causative/contributing factors:
• Determine client’s usual religious/spiritual beliefs, values, past
spiritual commitment. Provides a baseline for understanding
current problem.
• Note client’s/SO’s reports and expressions of anger/concern,
alienation from God, sense of guilt or retribution. Perception
of guilt may cause spiritual crisis/suffering resulting in
rejection of religious symbols.
• Determine sense of futility, feelings of hopelessness, lack of
motivation to help self. Indicators that client may see no, or
only limited, options/alternatives or personal choices.
• Assess extent of depression client may be experiencing. Some
studies suggest that a focus on religion may protect against
depression.
• Note recent changes in behavior (e.g., withdrawal from others/religious
activities, dependence on alcohol or medications).
Lack of connectedness with self/others impairs ability to
trust others or feel worthy of trust from others/God.
NURSING PRIORITY NO.2.To assist client/SO(s) to deal with feelings/
situation:
• Use therapeutic communication skills of reflection and
active-listening. Communicates acceptance and enables
client to find own solutions to concerns.
• Encourage expression of feelings about illness/condition,
death.
• Suggest use of journaling/reminiscence. Promotes life review
and can assist in clarifying values/ideas, recognizing and
resolving feelings/situation.
Information in brackets added by the authors to clarify and enhance
the use of nursing diagnoses.
Diagnostic Studies Pediatric/Geriatric/Lifespan Medications 557
impaired RELIGIOSITY