Risk for spiritual distress

Domain 10. Life principles
Class 3. Value-belief-action congruence
Diagnostic Code: 00067
Nanda label: Risk for spiritual distress
Diagnostic focus: Spiritual distress

Nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress is a diagnosis that assesses a patient’s spiritual values and beliefs and identifies signs of distress due to challenges, emotions, and circumstances at various life stages. It provides an understanding of how the patient’s values, beliefs, and lifestyle perceptions can influence an individual’s overall health and well-being. This assessment provides education and strategies to the healthcare team to help them support their patients in a manner that respects the individual’s spiritual and religious beliefs while promoting healing.

NANDA Nursing Diagnosis Definition

NANDA International defines nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress as being at risk for a disturbance in the existential/spiritual domain due to current or potential difficulty in finding meaning/peace within one’s environment or life circumstances.

Risk Factors

There are various risk factors associated with nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress. These include:

• Environmental confusion or chaos: Being surrounded by stressful environments and having difficulty making sense of it all can lead to spiritual distress.
• Inability to cope with loss: The death of a relative or significant other, loss of job or home, or any other kind of major life change can lead to spiritual distress.
• Time and distance from family members: Physical and emotional distance from family members or a lack of feeling connected to a spiritual community can lead to spiritual distress.
• Isolation and feelings of worthlessness: Loneliness and feelings of valuelessness can lead to spiritual distress.
• Lack of optimism and hope: A feeling of hopelessness and lack of purpose in life can lead to spiritual distress.

At Risk Population

Certain populations are more at risk for nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress than others. These include:

• Patients with cancer: Patients with cancer have an increased risk of spiritual distress due to the nature of the disease and its treatments.
• Terminally ill patients: Terminally ill patients are at higher risk for spiritual distress due to their limited amount of time left to live.
• Elderly or frail individuals: Elderly individuals are especially prone to spiritual distress due to the frailty associated with advanced age.
• Individuals with addiction: People who battle substance abuse or addiction often experience spiritual distress as they struggle to make sense of their lives.

Associated Conditions

There are certain medical conditions that can be associated with nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress. These include:

• Depression: Patients with depression are often more likely to experience spiritual distress.
• Anxiety: Individuals struggling with anxiety or panic attacks have an increased risk of spiritual distress.
• Chronic pain: People dealing with chronic pain may be more likely to suffer from spiritual distress due to the inability to enjoy life.
• Traumatic brain injury: Patients with TBIs often suffer from spiritual distress due to the changes in behavior and function that accompany the injury.

Suggestions of Use

Nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress can be used to assess the level of spiritual distress in a patient, identify strategies for providing support, and create care plans that take into account spiritual beliefs and values. It can help healthcare providers understand the dynamics of a patient’s beliefs and culture and ensure that appropriate choices are made for spiritual care.

Suggested Alternative NANDA Nursing Diagnosis

There are several alternative NANDA nursing diagnoses suggested for those at risk for spiritual distress. These include:

• Ineffective Coping:This diagnosis assesses a patient’s ability to manage emotional and psychological stressors.
• Powerlessness:This diagnosis evaluates the patient’s sense of powerlessness and lack of control over life circumstances.
• Spiritual Disturbance:This diagnosis evaluates the patient’s relationship with a higher power and how this relates to peace and understanding.
• Spiritual Loss:This diagnosis evaluates the patient’s feelings of loss due to changes in belief systems and spiritual perspectives.

Usage Tips

To ensure an accurate assessment, healthcare providers should use the nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress in combination with other assessment tools and questionnaires. Additionally, healthcare providers should take into consideration any cultural differences when assessing patients for spiritual distress, as their beliefs and values can differ from one culture to another.

NOC Outcomes

When it comes to nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress, the nurse can assess the patient’s progress based on the following nursing outcomes classification (NOC) outcomes:

• Spiritual Well-Being:This outcome measures the patient’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being.
• Hope:This outcome evaluates the patient’s level of hope and optimism.
• Coping:This outcome measures the patient’s ability to handle everyday stressors and demands.
• Self-Awareness:This outcome assesses the patient’s knowledge of their beliefs and values.
• Decision Making:This outcome evaluates the patient’s ability to make decisions consistent with their beliefs and values.

Evaluation Objectives and Criteria

The objectives and criteria for the nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress are as follows:

• Objective:To assess the patient’s spiritual values and beliefs and identify signs of distress due to challenges, emotions, and circumstances at various life stages.
• Criteria:The patient will demonstrate an understanding of their beliefs/values, express peace and understanding in life circumstances, and participate in activities that fulfill spiritual needs.

NIC Interventions

Nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress can be addressed through the following nursing interventions classification (NIC) interventions:

• Spiritual Assessment:This intervention involves assessing the patient’s spiritual beliefs and values.
• Spiritual Support:This intervention involves providing support for the patient, such as referrals to spiritual leaders, prayer and meditation sessions, or religious services.
• Supportive Listening:This intervention involves providing an open and nonjudgmental environment for the patient to discuss any spiritual issues.
• Instruction in Meditation:This intervention involves teaching the patient techniques for calming their mind and body, such as meditation.
• Grief Support:This intervention involves providing guidance and comfort to the patient in times of grief.

Nursing Activities

Nursing activities related to nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress include:

• Assessing spiritual distress:Identifying and assessing the level and type of spiritual distress the patient is experiencing.
• Assessing coping mechanisms:Identifying healthy coping skills the patient can use to manage spiritual distress.
• Teaching relaxation techniques:Teaching the patient relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and guided imagery, to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Referring to spiritual resources:Referring the patient to appropriate spiritual resources, such as religious services, prayer groups, and support groups.
• Providing counseling:Providing counseling to the patient to help them explore and understand their spiritual beliefs and values.

Conclusion

Nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress is an important assessment tool that healthcare providers can use to evaluate a patient’s spiritual beliefs and values and identify signs of distress. It can also provide insight into how spiritual beliefs and values can affect overall health and well-being and can help healthcare providers create care plans that respect and address spiritual concerns.

FAQs

1. What is nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress?
   Nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress is a diagnosis that assesses a patient’s spiritual values and beliefs and identifies signs of distress due to challenges, emotions, and circumstances at various life stages.
2. Who is at risk for spiritual distress?
   Certain populations are more at risk for nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress than others. These include patients with cancer, terminally ill patients, elderly or frail individuals, and individuals with addiction.
3. What medical conditions can be associated with nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress?
   There are certain medical conditions that can be associated with nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress. These include depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injury.
4. What are the NOC outcomes associated with nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress?
   When it comes to nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress, the nurse can assess the patient’s progress based on the following nursing outcomes classification (NOC) outcomes: spiritual well-being, hope, coping, self-awareness, and decision making.
5. What are some of the nursing activities associated with nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress?
   Nursing activities related to nursing diagnosis risk for spiritual distress include assessing spiritual distress, assessing coping mechanisms, teaching relaxation techniques, referring to spiritual resources, and providing counseling.