This document summarizes a presentation given by 3 nursing students on exploring spirituality. It discusses how studying spirituality can help with stress, finding meaning and purpose. It describes the students' visit to a residential home where they observed a memorial service and different faith services. The students reflected that spirituality is a personal journey for inner peace while religion involves organized practices. The document also discusses how spiritual care can be incorporated into nursing to treat the whole person and prevent burnout.

1. Our Spiritual Journey: 3 BPN Students
Finding Spirituality in Nursing
(Body-Mind-Spirit)
PSYN 3200 (April 2013)
Presented by:
Ellyn Mawal,
Kamil Mehta,
Ching-Lun (Chris) Tsai Bsc
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Practice Mentor : Roberta Jokanovich BScN MPA RN

2. George Pearson Centre
▪ 700 West 57th Avenue, Vancouver,
B.C, V6P 1S1
▪ Residential home for 120 Adults with
a life history and a story
▪ Many have MS, TBI, CP and a variety
of other conditions, and required
specialized assistance.
▪ Funded and operated by Vancouver
Coastal Health

3. Why study Spirituality?
▪ Relationship between body, mind, and spirit
▪ Find inner peace, purpose and meaning in life
▪ Help to cope with stress
▪ Connect with community through religion and
spirituality to gain more resources
▪ Broaden knowledge and experience on spirituality,
religion, and culture in multicultural society
▪ Increase awareness on spiritual care in nursing
practice

4. Our Spiritual Journey

5. Memorial Service in George Pearson Centre
▪ 15 – 20 attendees
▪ Family, friends, residents, and
staff
▪ VCH Chaplain conducted
the nondenominational
service
▪ Music and picture album
▪ Drinks and snacks after

6. Roman Catholic
▪ St. Paul Parish
▪ 8251 St Albans Rd, Richmond, BC
▪ (604) 277-3213

7. Sikhism
▪ Guru Nanak Niwas
▪ 8600 No. 5 Rd Richmond, BC
▪ (604) 274-7479

8. Hinduism
▪ Ram Krishna Mandir in the Vedic Cultural Centre of BC
▪ 8200 - No. 5 Road, Richmond. B.C
▪ (604) 275-9182

9. Tibetan Buddhism
▪ Thrangu Monastry Canada
▪ 8140 No. 5 Road, Richmond. B.C
▪ (778) 297-6010

10. Chinese Buddhism
▪ International Buddhist Society
▪ 9160 Steveston Highway, Richmond, B.C., Canada V7A 1M5
▪ (604) 274-2822

11. Taoism
▪ Tian-Jin Temple
▪ 3426 Smith Avenue, Burnaby, BC
▪ (604) 568- 9880

12. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen: Classical Chinese Garden
▪ 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC
▪ (604) 662 3207

13. VanDusen Botanical Garden
▪ 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC
▪ (604) 878- 9274

14. Maladjusted (Theatre)
▪ Firehall Arts Centre
▪ 280 E. Cordova St. Vancouver, BC
▪ (604)689-0926

15. Our Thoughts on Spirituality
▪ Before our journey:
▪ Spirituality = Religion
▪ After our journey:
▪ Spirituality:
▪ Personal and individual spiritual journey to find inner peace
▪ Any form
▪ nature, arts, music, food
▪ Religion:
▪ Outwardly organized practices, rituals, and codes of conduct to
fulfill people’s spiritual needs

16. How can spirituality help you
prevent burnout?

18. Spirituality in Health Care
▪ Finding meaning and connection through religion or
spirituality can protect against negative outcomes of
stress (Edelman & Mandle,2006)
▪ Holistic Care
▪ Body-Mind-Spirit
▪ Spiritual care is often neglected
by most health care providers
through our experiences

19. Sacred Spaces
▪ A quiet place to think, reflect,
pray and meditate
▪ Accessibility
▪ Open 24 hours
▪ For everyone
▪ Clients, families, visitors, staff
▪ Photo taken at Vancouver General Hospital Sacred
Spaces

20. Sacred Spaces
▪ What are in the sacred spaces?
▪ Chairs
▪ Kneeling chairs
▪ Mats
▪ Head coverings
▪ Yamaka
▪ Guest book
▪ Sacred texts and words of wisdom
▪ From any and all faiths
▪ Religious symbols and items

21. Religious Symbols

22. Religious Symbols
▪ Swastik
vs

23. Chaplains (Spiritual Care Specialist)
▪ Part of Interdisciplinary team to provide
holistic care
▪ Nondenominational
▪ Keep assist with the spiritual and emotional
needs of patients, families and staff
▪ Keep in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living
facilities, hospices, residential care, and prisons
▪ Keep helps to connect with various spiritual
resources in the community

24. How can you incorporate
spiritual care into your practice?

25. Nursing Assessments and Tools
▪ Resident’s spiritual needs are part of daily nursing care
▪ Commonly used assessment
tools:
▪ FICA
▪ HOPE
▪ SPIRIT
▪ Admission form (limited)

26. Putting into Practice
▪ When we spoke with residents in GPC:
▪ They were seeking the sense of belonging and better coping
mechanisms through spirituality
▪ They believe that nurses should incorporate
spiritual care into their daily assessments
▪ Some did not know that spiritual care can
be a part of nursing care
▪ Some were uncomfortable with sharing
personal feelings about spirituality

27. How would you influence RPN’s in
your workplace to develop the spirit in
their practice of Body – Mind – Spirit?

28. Acknowledgement
▪ Special thanks to:
▪ Practice Mentor : Roberta Jokanovich BScN MPA RN

29. References
▪ Chidarikire, S. (2012). Spirituality: The neglected dimension of holistic mental health
care. Advances In Mental Health, 10(3), 298-302. doi:10.5172/jamh.2012.10.3.298
▪ Clarke, J. (2010). Body and soul in mental health care. Mental Health, Religion &
Culture, 13(6), 649-657. doi:10.1080/13674676.2010.488416
▪ Cook, C., Breckon, J., Jay, C., Renwick, L., & Walker, P. (2012). Pathway to
accommodate patients' spiritual needs. Nursing Management - UK, 19(2), 33-37.
▪ Edelman, C. L., & Mandle, C. L. (2006). Health promotion: Throughout the life span.
(6th ed., pp. 1-701). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.
▪ Galanter, M. (2010). Spirituality in Psychiatry: A Biopsychosocial Perspective.
Psychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 73(2), 145-157
▪ Hayden, D. (2011). Spirituality in end-of-life care: attending the person on their journey.
British Journal Of Community Nursing, 16(11), 546-551.

30. References
▪ Hayden, D. (2011). Spirituality in end-of-life care: attending the person on their journey.
British Journal Of Community Nursing, 16(11), 546-551.
▪ Krok, D. (2008). The role of spirituality in coping: Examining the relationships between
spiritual dimensions and coping styles. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 11(7), 643-
653. doi:10.1080/13674670801930429
▪ Morgan, O. J. (2009). Thoughts on the Interaction of Trauma, Addiction, and
Spirituality. Journal Of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 30(1), 5-15.
▪ Nichols, L. M., & Hunt, B. (2011). The Significance of Spirituality for Individuals with
Chronic Illness: Implications for Mental Health Counseling. Journal Of Mental Health
Counseling, 33(1), 51-66.
▪ Rosmarin, D. H., Auerbach, R. P., Bigda-Peyton, J. S., Björgvinsson, T., & Levendusky, P.
G. (2011). Integrating Spirituality Into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in an Acute
Psychiatric Setting: A Pilot Study. Journal Of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25(4), 287-303.
doi:10.1891/0889-8391.25.4.287