Discussion Question - Essay Example

Spirituality in Nursing Spiritual nursing plays an important role in the healing process of a patient since there is unity between the body and soul. Several patients have a religious inclination, and are, therefore, influenced by the spiritual being they believe in (OBrien, pp. 128). Patients usually have a tendency of praying for their illnesses, especially those facing chronic illnesses and cancer. At one time, three patients suffering from cancer had a routine of conducting prayers every day in their ward.

The prayer sessions were open for other patients as well as the nursing staff. In some occasions, family and friends who visited these patients would participate in the prayer sessions. The three patients, who were all Christians, engaged in prayer to get the necessary spiritual strength to deal with the pain and other limitations caused by the disease. These prayers attracted other Christians within the ward, who were suffering from different diseases. These prayers usually helped the patients deal with the pain, and trust God for their healing.

The activity was well-received by other Christians in the ward, but there was some resistance from the Muslims. This came from the different beliefs and praying times followed by the Muslim believers. The Christians would pray in the morning and evening, while Muslims pray three times in a day. The Muslim prayers follow a predefined format whereas Christians do not follow given prayer format. This forced the Muslims to engage in their prayers separately from Christians. However, they were free to join the Christians, and some were involved in the Christian prayer.

Patients require spiritual support from nurses, who can participate in their spiritual practices or reinforce their spiritual beliefs. Works CitedOBrien, Mary E. Spirituality in Nursing: Standing on Holy Ground. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2011. Print.