NURS 339 - Spiritual Dimensions in Professional Health Practice

(2 credits)

This course focuses on the concept of human spirituality and its relationship to caring and healing across the health continuum. Spirituality in health care practice is addressed from a historical, contemporary, and personal perspective as the student examines the role of spirituality in the healing/grieving process. Along with an exploration of the effects of personal belief systems have on patients and families, the impact of the student’s own spiritual self-awareness on their care of clients will be identified. Evidence-based practice is used as the context for examining culturally competent and sensitive approaches to helping patients and their systems of support find their own sense of meaning in the midst of suffering. Religious beliefs/practices of diverse populations are explored in the psychosocial frameworks of prominent theorists to identify positive contributions that may be made by professionals regardless of their discipline or personal belief system. Prerequisite: Junior level status; health science major.