Pray With Me
“I think most physicians try to be very sensitive to these matters,” says Dr. Post.
Dr. Westle notes he has provided more companionate care (“hugging family and patients, sitting and talking about the good old days”) than spiritual guidance.
“Some patients and families feel supported simply by their doctor or nurse joining in a moment of silence or even holding hands during a spoken prayer,” adds Dr. Taylor. “Some of us are better than others at identifying and responding to spiritual needs. But I do think it’s a shared responsibility. The more people we can engage in identifying and responding to spiritual needs, the better patient, family, and medical team will be served. Hospitalists are in an excellent position to identify those needs because of their everyday contact. And if they simply make the right referrals, they’ve done a really good job.” TH
Gretchen Henkel writes frequently for The Hospitalist.
References
- Barnes LL, Plotnikoff GA, Fox K, et al. Spirituality, religion, and pediatrics: intersecting worlds of healing. Pediatrics 2000 Oct;106(4 Suppl):899-908.
- Post SG, Puchalski CM, Larson DB. Physicians and Patient Spirituality: Professional Boundaries, Competency, and Ethics. Ann Intern Med. 2000 April 4;132(7):578-583. Comment in: Ann Intern Med. 2000 Dec 5;133(11):920-1; Ann Intern Med. 2000 Nov 7;133(9):748-9.
- Kwiatkowski K, Arnold B, Barnard D. Physicians and Prayer Requests. Fast Fact and Concept #120. Available at www.eperc.mcw.edu/fastFact/ff_120.htm. Last accessed April 5, 2007.
- Taylor C, Lillis C, LeMone P. Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care, 5th ed. 2005. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2005.
