Spirituality in health care plays a huge part in patients’ recovery

Melanie Rogers is a Senior Lecturer and Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the University of Huddersfield and is one of the leaders of the special interest group into spirituality in health care. Spirituality goes beyond religion and in simple terms can give a patient 'hope, meaning and purpose', which can help in their recovery from illness. As Melanie explains, though a valuable part of the care a patient needs to receive, it is an area that makes many health professionals uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. Huddersfield is currently introducing spirituality into its curricula for its health students and here Melanie comments on the issues, including compassion fatigue, and how she approaches it with both her patients and her students.

[@MoonLight-wx1yu]

It’s all about taking care of someone and noticing the basic things the basic needs taking care of someone emotionally not just physically throughout their journey there and looking after their well-being with compassion. For example someone who was been in a accident is likely to require mental and emotional support or someone before or after a serious operation or any kind and checking up about how they are feeling. It’s about approaching everyone individually and connecting with them and making sure that everyone feels that they are heard, seen, validated and that their needs are met. Being in the present moment linking into the power of now- a book written that’s very well known within the general public as well as to the general concept of mindfulness as not just a meditation technique but a lifestyle and a general practice. Being calm and present with everything that you do basically.

[@ghislaineyoung2626]

Well said! In nursing as in medicine it’s not so much what we do but how sensitively and compassionately we perform our roles. The being there for another human being and sharing that moment together. The consultation is a sacred space for that interaction ( and note it’s not a transaction... we are performing a service) to occur.

[@chantal3804]

❤❤

[@socksumi]

Define spirituality. I've yet to hear a coherent and consistent definition. I sense a danger here... please never replace scientific methodology with woo. Tracie Harris of ACA (Atheist Experience) did a comprehensive study on spirituality in healthcare what many health care professionals are being asked to do and in many instances it's most disturbing.

[@virginiamoreno7655]

I hate for you to speak for everyone. For me and many spirituality is my RELIGION. I find it offensive to refer to religion as negative!

[@LaughLaughLive]

Pretty sure they weren't trying to demean your beliefs, on the contrary this video is meant to help those that are closed-minded learn to care for people like you that are quite pious. And her view of religion was far from negative.