Essay Sample on Spiritual Issues Surrounding Disasters

Introduction

Several spiritual issues may arise from a disaster from anybody who is either directly or indirectly impacted by the disaster. Whenever we have natural disasters like tsunamis, floods, and natural fires sacred landmarks, cemeteries, religious spaces, and homes are often destroyed. Human beings are highly religious individuals whose spirituality can easily be influenced by some of the natural or manmade disasters. When a natural disaster strikes a village, and the entire family is wiped except one, the remaining individual is often left with many questions why it was his family and not the others. The spiritualties of many individuals have been adversely affected by such occurrences when some begin to question the sovereignty and the will of God (Walsh, 2007).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Human beings typically live in communities. When there is a natural disaster, and the sacred place is destroyed, various spiritual issues usually arise from the villages around (Koenig, 2006). When an accident leads to the loss of lives in a community, many people are typically left devastated and in need of spiritual and moral support (Farkas & Hutchison-Hall, 2005). Holding prayers and a healing service within the community has been turned out to be beneficial to many such communities.

The primary role of the nurses is to offer support to the patients (Walsh, 2007). In the midst of a natural disaster, the nurses are also professionally trained to provide spiritual support to the patients that will help them heal within the shortest time possible. When it comes to the provision of spiritual support when disasters strike, the roles of the nurses vary, but it is typically guided by therapeutic communication. However, the nurses are not supposed to force their beliefs to those of their patients. They need to be understanding of the spirituality of their patients when disasters strike so that they offer the best support in the event of the accidents (Koenig, 2006). Understanding the spiritualties of such communities will help them in asking the right queries during the disasters which in turn will help her in providing the right services.

A community nurse refers to the nurse that is tasked with offering the nursing services to the community in which she serves. A community health nurse can assist in the spiritual care of an individual by respecting the cultural and religious view of the individuals. This can be best established by being respectful of the spiritual beliefs of other individuals. As for the community, it is essential for the community nurse to familiarize herself with the spiritual and cultural views of the community. When a nurse identifies with the spirituality of a society in which she serves, she will be able to offer the right spiritual care to her patients (Farkas & Hutchison-Hall, 2005). In the midst and the busy diary of the community health nurses, it is crucial for them to find their self. The spiritual care of a nurse can be best addressed when she regularly takes time on her own to reflect on some of the disciplines that her faith teaches. This could be through the reading of the religious books, praying, and even joining other people who share the same belief in fellowship.

Last but not least, a community health nurse can provide spiritual care to the colleagues by sharing her faith with them. However, when it comes to sharing faith with the colleagues, her sentiments should be accompanied by actions. Sharing her faith directly to her colleagues and getting involved in the acts of love and kindness could help their colleagues in enhancing their spirituality.

References

Farkas, Z. D., & Hutchison-Hall, J. (2005). Religious care in coping with terrorism. Journal of aggression, maltreatment & trauma, 10(1-2), 565-576.

Koenig, H. G. (2006). In the wake of disaster: Religious responses to terrorism and catastrophe. Templeton Foundation Press.

Walsh, F. (2007). Traumatic loss and major disasters: Strengthening family and community resilience. Family process, 46(2), 207-227.