Risk for spiritual distress

Risk for Spiritual Distress
Taxonomy II: Life Principles—Class 3 Value/Belief/Action Congruence (00067) [Diagnostic Division: Ego Integrity] Nursing Diagnosis Extension and Classification (NDEC) Submission 1998; Revised 2004 developmental life changes Environmental

Definition:

At risk for an impaired ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life through a person’s connectedness with self, other persons, art, music, literature, nature, and/or a power greater than oneself

RISK FACTORS

Physical Physical/chronic illness, substance abuse/excessive drinking Psychological Stress; anxiety; depression Low self-esteem; poor relationships; blocks to experiencing love; inability to forgive Loss; separate from support systems; racial/cultural conflict Change in religious rituals/spiritual practices

Developmental Life changes; developmental life changes

Environmental Environmental changes; natural disasters NOTE: A risk diagnosis is not evidenced by signs and symptoms, as the problem has not occurred and nursing interventions are directed at prevention.

DESIRED OUTCOMES/EVALUATION CRITERIA—CLIENT WILL:

• Identify meaning and purpose in one’s life that reinforce hope, peace, and contentment.

• Verbalize acceptance of self as being worthy, not deserving of illness/situation, and so forth.

• Identify and use resources appropriately.

ACTIONS/INTERVENTIONS

nursing priority no. 1. To assess causative/contributing factors:

• Ascertain current situation (e.g., natural disaster, death of a spouse, personal injustice).

• Listen to client’s/SO’s reports/expressions of anger/concern, belief that illness/situation is a punishment for wrongdoing, and so forth.

• Note reason for living and whether it is directly related to situation (e.g., home and business washed away in a flood, parent whose only child is terminally ill).

• Determine client’s religious/spiritual orientation, current involvement, presence of conflicts, especially in current circumstances.

• Assess sense of self-concept, worth, ability to enter into loving relationships.

• Observe behavior indicative of poor relationships with others (e.g., manipulative, nontrusting, demanding).

• Determine support systems available to and used by client/SO(s).

• Ascertain substance use/abuse. (Affects ability to deal with problems in a positive manner.)

nursing priority no. 2. To assist client/SO(s) to deal with feeling/situation:

• Establish environment that promotes free expression of feelings and concerns.

see also

nursing care plan nursing process