Introduction to Nursing Diagnosis: Deterioration Of Religiosity
Religiosity, defined as belief or practice of religious activities, is an important health indicator for many people. This can range from active involvement in religious organizations or activities, to a personal connection via prayer and studying holy texts. When religiosity suddenly deteriorates, it often signals that something else might be going on in a person’s life or body. nursing diagnosis: Deterioration of Religiosity can help alert healthcare providers that a patient may be exhibiting warning signs of a physical or emotional illness, or experiencing a tragic life event.
Nursing Diagnosis Definition
The most recent NANDA definition of Deterioration of Religiosity reads: “Disturbed spirituality evidenced by decreased attendance to religious services, not performing religious rituals, decreased communication with higher power, decreased meaning/purpose in life” [Moonsamy, 2018].
Defining Characteristics
Subjectives
- Verbal report of decrease in religious activities
- Inability to perform religious activities
- Increased feeling of guilt regarding past religious practices
Objectives
- Discontinuation of religious practices or routines
- Failure to attend religious services
- Diminished interest in religious or spiritual topics
The factors related to Deterioration of Religiosity are largely the same for any type of behavior or lifestyle change:
- Altered mental status due to physical or psychological conditions
- Enduring physical disability
- Major acrimonious events
- Developed faith conflicts
- Treatment-related issues
These can be further analyzed by Explanation:
- Altered mental status due to physical or psychological conditions – Changes in mental clarity can lead to changes in cognition and behavior, thus making religious attendance or practice more challenging.
- Enduring physical disability – Conditions like stroke, loss of vision or hearing, or general incapacitation can make it more difficult for individuals to perform religious activities.
- Major acrimonious events – Loss of a loved one, natural disaster, divorce, or other traumatic experiences can have a destabilizing effect on a person’s beliefs.
- Developed faith conflicts – Struggles such as changing spiritual ties, questioning previously held beliefs, or discovering new meanings can alter a person’s approach to their faith.
- Treatment-related issues – Chemotherapy or other medical treatments can produce physical pain and cognitive impairment, causing a person to become less active in their faith.
Risk Population
Those who are most at risk of Deterioration of Religiosity are more likely to be in unique positions, including:
- Anyone at the end of life
- Those with chronic mental illness
- Individuals undergoing treatment
- Victims of trauma
- Scholars in a crisis of faith
Explanation:
- Anyone at the end of life – Death and dying are scary for many people, and reaching out to religion during this time might be difficult for those who have not had a lifelong relationship with their church or faith.
- Those with chronic mental illness – Psychological disorders, such as depression or anxiety, can interfere with both an individual’s understanding of religious interpretation and the ability to be social, thus making regular attendance to religious practices more difficult.
- Individuals undergoing treatment – Medications and treatments can cause physical or cognitive side effects, disrupting an individual’s spiritual practices and comfort level.
- Victims of trauma – Trauma victims often experience feelings of instability, guilt, or hopelessness, all of which can negatively affect a person’s ability to feel trust in a higher power.
- Scholars in a crisis of faith – During periods of research or contemplation, individuals might feel uncomfortable relying on their faith alone, making it harder to connect or practice their faith.
Associated Problems
A decline in religiosity can produce secondary problems such as:
- Altered decision-making
- Decreased social support system
- Loss of identity
- Spiritual crises
Explanation:
- Altered decision-making – Difficulty in making deeply held decisions, such as choosing life-sustaining treatments, if a patient is doubts their underlying beliefs.
- Decreased social support system – Without a faith-based community, an individual might feel more isolated or undeserving of love and support.
- Loss of identity – A change in religiosity can make a person feel disconnected from the person they once were.
- Spiritual crises – Feelings of guilt, blame or confusion from questioning or no longer believing can impact a person’s authenticity and spiritual growth.
Suggestions of Use
Deterioration of Religiosity can be used to recognize when a patient expresses:
- Significant changes in religious activities
- Diminished interest in religion
- Revelations of faith crises
Explanation:
- Significant changes in religious activities – This can manifest as attending fewer religious services, discontinuing personal worship, or ceasing participation in organized rituals.
- Diminished interest in religion – This can include a lack of interest in spiritual topics, decrease in conversation related to faith, or neglect of religious symbols.
- Revelations of faith crises – Confirmation of spiritual doubts and questioning, less comfort in praying, or increased feelings of guilt or blame for abandoning previously held beliefs.
Suggested Alternative Nursing Diagnosis
When determining the appropriate NANDA diagnosis for a patient, healthcare providers should consider their findings and compare them to other nursing diagnoses such as Lack of Spiritual Meaning or Readiness for Enhanced Spirituality.
Explanation:
- Lack of Spiritual Meaning – This diagnosis is intended to describe a patient’s current lack of purpose and connection to faith.
- Readiness for Enhanced Spirituality – This diagnosis can provide health care providers with direction when addressing increased spiritual needs.
Usage Tips
Caregivers should ensure the use of nursing diagnosis: Deterioration of Religiosity is in accordance with the latest NANDA-I Taxonomy, referencing the following categories when diagnosing:
- 00201 Spiritual Distress
- 003 Association of Spiritual Unawareness and/or Compliance Level
- 004 Spiritual/Religious Coping
NOC Results
The nursing diagnosis 'Deterioration of Religiosity' should lead to the following NOC results when monitored and treated over time:
- Spiritual Well Being – The patient will demonstrate enhanced spiritual connections, individualized spirituality patterns, and understanding of religious values.
- Spiritual Awareness – The patient will report improved ability to determine meaningful ways to incorporate spirituality into daily living.
- Hope/Faith – The patient will verbalize improved confidence in his/her spiritual beliefs and practices.
- Comfort Measures – The patient will report a sense of comfort from spiritual activities and rituals.
- Self Concept – The patient will possess a stronger sense of self worth reflective of spiritual beliefs.
Explanation:
- Spiritual Well Being – Patient learns to appreciate and navigate spirituality with respect to life changes, physical and emotional anguish, and relationships.
- Spiritual Awareness – With help, the patient can identify areas of desire, progress, and achievement related to his/her beliefs and activities.
- Hope/Faith – Patient gains a renewed sense of optimism, strength, and meaning connected to spiritual practices.
- Comfort Measures – Patient feels comforted by participating in prayer, meditation, devotional readings, worshipping, etc.
- Self Concept – Patient understands he/she has strengths that are appreciated, encouraged, and enabled through meaningful spiritual practices.
NIC Interventions
When treating patients with Nursing Diagnosis: Deterioration of Religiosity, healthcare professionals should consider using the following interventions:
- Spiritual Care Support – Offers emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients struggling with religious issues.
- Integrative Comfort Measures – Utilizes therapeutic techniques and practices that use both spiritual and physical comfort.
- Advocacy and Participation – Encourages and assists a patient in engaging in spiritual activities.
- Spiritual/Religious Exploration – Provides opportunities to investigate and verify spiritual beliefs.
- Religious Counseling – Addresses faith conflicts, explores existential questions and allows the patient to decide what he/she wants to believe.
Explanation:
- Spiritual Care Support – Provides a safe environment of listening ears, loving hands, and gentle hearts to ensure a patient remains connected to faith.
- Integrative Comfort Measures – Implements non-pharmacological practices that promote both mind-body comfort and spiritual health to maximize relaxation.
- Advocacy and Participation – Assists the patient in working through individual spiritual needs, offering direction and support for participating in events, rituals, and ceremonies.
- Spiritual/Religious Exploration – Guides the patient in being honest about inner questions or doubts, encouraging one to explore possibilities without judgment.
- Religious Counseling – Offers counseling where the patient can always feel respected as an expert of their own faith, helping them build their own spiritual journey.
Conclusion
nursing diagnosis: Deterioration of Religiosity
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