How can a community health nurse assist in the spiritual care of the
A disaster is a sudden calamity that occurs in an environment and causes huge destruction and loss (Falkner, 2018). The cause of a disaster can be natural or man-made. Either ways the impact of disasters can last a lifetime, and these includes the spiritual, physical and mental health aspects of victims and their family. Public health nurses must learn to assess and identify the strength and weakness of coping mechanism of victims experiencing or suffering from impact of a disaster. During assessment it is important to acknowledge the need for spiritual support, notify the family and victim that arrangement can always be made for a chaplain to visit, comfort and pray with the victims as required and requested (Falkner, 2018). Cultural diversities need to be acknowledged too because people express their pain and grieve differently. Nurses should take time to be there to listen to victims because sometimes they just need a listening ear and someone by them, since they might not have the opportunity to a support system.
When a disaster occurs lives are lost, businesses and infrastructure are lost putting individuals in a long-lasting grieving process, some people lost their homes and jobs making them jobless, poverty makes them to become homeless. This affects the individual’s the ability to care for themselves talk less of their family responsibilities. These are devastating attributes that make victims vulnerable to mental impairments and affects wellbeing of individuals. In such times nurses must spiritually support each other and public by providing and advocating for spiritual care. Evidence have shown that spiritual care may serve as a coping resource, enhance pain management, reduce risk of depression, reduce the risk of substance abuse and suicide (Elk, hall, DeGregory, Graham, Hughes, 2017).
It is very important for nurses to be verse with spiritual care to provide quality care in case of disasters. The spiritual care can be provided by screening the victim’s religious to identify spiritual preferences, support and respect the victim’s religion, provide individualized patient care, refer patients to chaplain and churches around the community is a good resource for victims in need of emotional and mental disabilities from a disaster (Elk et al, 2017).
Respond using 200-300 words APA format with references to support this discussion.
What spiritual considerations surrounding a disaster can arise for individuals, communities, and health care providers? Explain your answer in the context of a natural or manmade disaster. How can a community health nurse assist in the spiritual care of the individual, community, self, and colleagues?
