Spiritual Care – NURS 750
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 07/27/2021
Course Description
This course will examine the interrelatedness of spirituality and the practice of nursing. The primary orientation of the course will be that of the Christian worldview. Historical perspectives on spiritual care will be incorporated with the healing arts. Contemporary models such as parish nursing will be explored. The spiritual needs of the caregiver will be identified and support opportunities will be examined.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
Advanced practice nurses provide spiritual care to families and clients across the age spectrum. An in-depth understanding between spirituality and the practice of nursing from the historic perspective of the nursing profession, the nature of the nurse-patient relations, and the role of assessment and provision of spiritual care is essential to the holistic provider’s practice. Theoretical underpinning and models of contemporary provisions of spiritual care, including parish nursing, serve as a platform to understanding of the interrelatedness of the art of caring and professional practice.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (2)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread will be graded based on the depth and breadth of the discussion. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be robust and make substantial contributions to the overall discussion. Each thread must include at least 2 peer-reviewed references in addition to the textbook and each reply must include at least 2 peer-reviewed references (the textbook may be used as 1 of the references). (CLO A, B, D, E, F).
Caring Ministry Exemplar Paper Assignment
The student will write a 5–7-page paper in current APA format with 3–4 references in addition to the course textbook and Bible. The paper must cover key concepts of the theory of spiritual wellbeing in illness, as well as the elements of caring one should use, such as prayer, touch, caring, presence, etc. (A, B, C, D, E, F).
Spiritual Care Workshop Assignment
This workshop will provide information about spiritual care during illness and the variation between specific religious or belief systems. The workshop will also provide information to professional nurses for how to provide spiritual care for clients with specific belief systems or religions, including targeted learning activities. The student will be partnered with a classmate for this assignment. (A, B, C, D, E, F).
The workshop assignment is divided into 2 parts: Preparation and Final.
Part 1
The student will be assigned a partner for this assignment. The pair will select a topic from a provided list and develop a 4–6-page paper in current APA format. The paper will focus on spiritual care during illness, the variation of specific religious or belief systems, and how professional nurses should provide spiritual care for clients with different belief systems and religions. The paper must include 3–5 learning outcomes, as well as 5–7 peer-reviewed references in current APA format.
Part 2
The student will continue with his/her assigned partner in order to develop a 5–8-page paper in current APA format. The paper must include a learning activity to provide nurses with the skills to address the needs and cares of clients and their families during illness, based on the clients’ religion or belief system. The paper must include 5–7 peer-reviewed references in current APA format in addition to the course textbook and Bible.
Group PowerPoint Presentation Assignment
The Group PowerPoint Presentation will provide the student and his/her group with an opportunity to learn and share about the care of special populations through a guided learning experience and the development of a professional presentation. This includes the study of various people groups/religions during death and the dying process. (CLO A, B, D, E, F).
This assignment is divided into 2 parts: Preparation and the Final
Preparation
The student will be assigned to a group in order to begin the process of creating a Group PowerPoint Presentation. The preparation consists of topic selection, a 4–6-page paper including 3–5 learning outcomes for the presentation, an outline, and an annotated bibliography of 7–10 peer-reviewed references in current APA format.
Final
The student will continue working with his/her group to complete the presentation Final that will deliver the chosen topic as a professional presentation targeting professional nurses. The presentation Final must include 15–18 slides in addition to the title and reference slides in current APA format; learning outcomes; introduction and discussion of the topic; targeted interventions for nurses; and questions with answers that could be used to evaluate learning.
Servant Leadership Paper Assignment
The student will write an 8–10-page paper that includes 7–10 references in addition to the course textbook and Bible in current APA format. The assignment will provide an opportunity for the student to apply servant leadership skills to a personal growth plan. (CLO A, B, D, E, F).
