Facing the Questions…. Partnering with Health Professionals in providing Spiritual-Cultural Care in Healthcare Settings Janet Stark, Spiritual Care Manager and Multifaith Chaplain, Brockville General Hospital

Objectives To address the concept of “Culturally- Appropriate Care” in the provision of religious, spiritual and cultural care BGH Spiritual Care Nursing Survey will be discussed A Spiritual Care Assessment Tool will be shared Connecting with Allied Health Practitioners Participants will be invited to share questions, barriers and what they have found works well in their practice

Understanding the concept Spiritual care is often poorly addressed in health organizations. We may profess to provide holistic care - body, mind and spirit - but are we all on the same page when it comes to “spirit” care? If we are not all on the same page, how can we provide ‘spirit’ care to a consistent standard?

Nurses First! The 2011 nursing survey

A Nurse’s Perspective Results from 121 nursing surveys at Brockville General Hospital in 2011 identified the vast differences in understanding nurses have for what constitutes best practice spiritual care. A key finding is that often the terms ‘spiritual care’ and ‘religious care’ are misunderstood. The term ‘culturally-appropriate’ care seems better understood in the current Canadian environment of inclusiveness and tolerance.

A Nurse’s Perspective …..Vast range of educational backgrounds when it comes to spiritual health…

On a nursing team there may be: An older nurse who was trained by the Catholic nuns A nurse with Aboriginal roots who feels that often traditional medicine is at odds with his customs and practices A young nurse who proudly claims to be an atheist A middle-age nurse who is an evangelical Christian and attends every worship service held in the hospital.

On a nursing team there may be: A nurse who is of oriental background and Buddhist in practice A nurse who seems angry at the ‘church’ and fights against any personal connection with organized religion A nurse who is very spiritual and finds strength in sports and nature

Spiritual Care Nursing Survey Where are you at? RNRPNPSW 1. What is the difference between Religious and Spiritual care? 2. What is spiritual strength fostered by? 3. What is spiritual distress fostered by? 4. Do you have a developing spirituality of your own?

Spiritual Care Nursing Survey What is your role? 1. Is spiritual care within your scope of practice? 2. Are you comfortable providing a spiritual assessment? If not, why? 3. Do you currently refer patients to the spiritual care department? 4. Do you currently call a patient’s own clergy when needed?

Spiritual Care Nursing Survey What do you need? In order to improve your knowledge, skills, and comfort level with assessing & providing spiritual care, I need: ____short in-services ____half-day workshops ____full day workshops ____pastoral care course ____brochures, books & websites ____mentoring ____other: _____________________________________

Findings: Some nurses are well-informed but not comfortable Some nurses are not well-informed and not comfortable Some nurses are well-informed and comfortable

Research Shows Health professionals are often inadequately prepared to provide spiritual care Penman et al 2009 Nurses tend to equate “spirituality” with “religion” Oldnall, 1996 Nursing assessment has been dominated by the medical model (physical needs) Baldacchino, 2006

Research Shows 87% of patients consider spirituality to be important in their lives Between 51% and 77% consider religion to be important in their lives Edwards et al 2010 Outcomes of spiritual care is that patients: can count their blessings, achieve inner peace and explore coping strategies Baldacchino 2006

A Nurse’s Perspective Spiritual Care is most often consulted at end-of-life Palliative Care nurses seem to have the most comfortable relationship & practice with psycho-social-spiritual needs

Canadian Nursing Association Position – Spirituality, Health and Nursing Practice The CNA expects registered nurses to be respectful of and sensitive to diversity in spiritual beliefs, to support spiritual preferences and to attend to spiritual needs

CNA Position When planning for and providing care, nurses have an ethical responsibility to be aware of and adjust for an individual’s spiritual beliefs as a component of a holistic nursing assessment and practice. Nurses are uniquely situated to ensure that an individual’s spiritual values, beliefs and experiences are taken into account

Broadening the Perspective Religious Care “Are you kidding?” Spiritual Care “What’s that?” Culturally-Appropriate Care “Ah… we get it!”

Culturally-Appropriate Care Open, sensitive & inquiring Proactive and not Reactive Exploring early on-- being aware of, and adjusting to a person’s own spiritual- religious culture. All part of “patient-centred care”

Culturally-Appropriate Care A person or family’s lifestyle— Education Economic background Sexual orientation Ethnicity Religion Local culture Family tradition

What is Culturally-Appropriate Care? Understanding the patient’s living environment Being open and sensitive to diverse beliefs and practices Leaving personal bias’ at the door Not making assumptions Knowing where to find resources

Clinical Disciplines- Allied Health Therapeutic Recreation Discharge Planning Social Work Psychology Ethics Committee Palliative Care

Barriers to being consulted Personal bias or negativity Not understanding what spiritual care has to offer Poor past experience/discomfort Thinking that “patient must be dying” for the chaplain to show up

Spiritual-Cultural Assessment Patient/Client/Resident: ___________________________________ Faith Group/Religion/ Ethnic Background:____________________ Spiritual Contact:_______________________Phone ___________ Spiritual-Cultural History: Do you have a faith practice or religion? _____________________________________________________ How would you describe your culture?_________________________ Do you have any rituals you wish to practice?____________________

Spiritual-Cultural Assessment What spiritual practices gave you support in the past? (sometimes concrete examples need to be suggested: prayer, nature, reading, pets, art, music, worship services, visits from family, clergy etc) ___________________________________________________ Who gives you support? ___________________________________________________ Tell me about your family__________________________________ Is there anyone else who should be involved in making decisions about your care?______________________________________

Spiritual-Cultural Assessment Goals of Care: What is really important and meaningful to you right now?______ Is there anything the care team needs to know about health practices or restrictions important in your culture/faith group?_________________________ What do you believe about your illness? ________________________________

Spiritual-Cultural Assessment Spiritual Distress: Is there anything bothering you right now?___________________ Is there anything you are afraid of?__________________________ How are your loved ones coping right now?___________________ What would help?_________________________________________ How can we include this in the hospital setting?________________ Are there any other concerns you would like to share with me? ________________________________________________________

Helpful Strategies Communication Relationship with Staff Team Concept Education

What can help? Be sure nurses realize that you have the patient’s (& family) permission to be part of their care team Permission does not have to be in writing Gain permission of the patient to include their own personal clergy- person if desired

What can help? Be sure nurses can observe spiritual care at the bedside. Seeing the interaction, developing relationship and the positive response can result in an informal mentoring opportunity Gain the support of the nursing manager— make sure he/she totally “gets it” Ask for occasional moments to speak at nursing staff meetings

What can help? Be sure clinical staff know that you are available to help provide spiritual care, bereavement care and stress mgt for them personally Make the referral process easy! Find opportunities to ‘debrief’ nurses when something has worked well/not well

What can help? Plans for mandatory annual education sessions to improve the healthcare provider’s comfort and skill in providing appropriate bedside spiritual care. Have up-to-date area clergy contacts lists available in all nursing areas Compliment nurses on specific interactions that are helpful

What can help? Doing a really good job of explaining the role of spiritual care during new staff orientation education. Attending multidisciplinary patient rounds and having a voice at the table. Rarely saying “no” to requests Having a good after-hours “on-call” system

What can help? Show the value of including spiritual care volunteers in patient care Offer to assist/facilitate family meetings Get to know and build rapport with physicians

Brainstorm Session! What works well in your practice?

Questions 1. Why do spiritual care providers act as an advocate for patient-centred care?

Questions 2. How can we achieve respect on the multi-disciplinary team?

Questions 3. How can our toolkit of spiritual interventions merge with other therapy programs?

Questions 4. What have been our successes? Our Barriers? (in providing spiritual-cultural care?)

Questions 5. How to help meet the personal spiritual needs of staff