Question

What spiritual issues surrounding a disaster can arise for individuals, communities, and health care providers? Explain your answer in the context of a natural or manmade disaster. How can a community health nurse assist in the spiritual care of the individual, community, self, and colleagues?

Answer 1

Spiritual issues surrounding a disaster can arise for individuals, communities, and health care providers in the context of a natural or manmade disaster include a chaotic time due to panic, fear, and uncertainty easily running rampant. The community health nurses must prepare themselves to handle these nonmedical aspects of assisting patients through their recovery. For example, treating the ailments of the sick and dressing the wounds of the injured in a war and natural disaster are the chief priorities for any nursing professional, community health nurses should administer care within a close-knit population group, and often requires the offering of spiritual support as well. This requires setting aside one’s own personal views and being sensitive to others regions and cultural differences. A community health nurse can assist in the spiritual care of the individual, community, self, and colleagues by not imposing their personal religious inclinations on those whom they serve and being sensitive by tailoring the services according to the personal inclinations of the client.