Nursing, religiosity, and end-of-life care: interconnections and implications.
The influence of religious beliefs and practices at the end of life is underinvestigated. Given nursing's advocacy role and the intimate and personal nature of the dimensions of religiosity and the end of life, exploring the multidimensional interplay of religiosity and end-of-life care is a significant aspect of the nurse-patient relationship and must be better understood. The question that must be faced is whether nurses' own belief systems impinge on or influence patient care, especially for patients who are at the end of life. When nurses understand their own beliefs and respect the religious practices and needs of patients and their families, it deepens the humanistic dimensions of the nurse-patient relationship.
Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA. dana_bjarnason@hchd.tmc.edu
Dana
D
Bjarnason
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D006808:Humanism; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D035621:Secularism; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States