A Multi-Faith Resource for Healthcare Staff

Primary Author: NHS Education for Scotland

Guide developed to provide healthcare workers with knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity to the needs of the diverse faith and belief groups they may encounter in their every day work. For each faith tradition or cultural group included information is provided on: attitudes to healthcare staff and illness; religious practices; diet; fasting; washing and toilet; ideas of modesty and dress; death customs; birth customs; family planning; and blood transfusions, transplants and organ donation.

Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness

Primary Author: Mareen Pratt,

This book contains scripture verses, meditations and prayers related to specific aspects of living with chronic pain and illness. It includes topics such as "Having a Bad Day," "Where Is God?", and "How much pain can I take?" The author writes from her own experience living with lupus.

Spiritual Assessment in Clinical Practice

Primary Author: Christina M Puchalski, George Washington University Medical Center

Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice

Primary Author: Kristen L. Mauk, Valparaiso University

From the back cover of this textbook:

"Focusing on spirituality as an inherent component of effective nursing care, this text presents an unbiased view of the nature of human spirituality apart from religion. The text offers a unique interdisciplinary and inter-religious perspective--representing a range of Eastern and Western religious traditions--while addressing lifespan considerations and belief systems within the nursing process framework. Readable, interactive chapters apply the content clinically and highlight timely research on spirituality and health. Each chapter includes case studies, critical thinking questions, and personal reflection questions. Website references are also included."

Includes chapters on:

- Spiritual development
- Influences of religion and culture on nursing
- Spiritual Assessment
- Collaboration
- Nursing research
- The nurse's spiritual health

The Unbroken Circle: A Toolkit for Congregations Around Illness, End of Life, and Grief

Primary Author: James L Brooks, Duke University

The Unbroken Circle: A Toolkit for Congregations Around Illness, End of Life, and Grief is a new resource filled with practical tools and guidance to help congregations care for people facing illness, dying and bereavement. Developed by the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life and written by Rev. James L. Brooks, it provides clergy, lay leaders, parish nurses and chaplains with an inspiring vision, easy-to-use tools, specific tips, and hundreds of additional resources.

The Toolkit starts with a call to action and provides templates for congregations to plan a discussion of these issues. It also includes guidelines for support groups, information on how to offer spiritual support to families, and outlines for educational programs and liturgical services. The Toolkit is designed to be in sync with the self-organization of congregations, including organizing illness, death, and grief information specifically geared towards adult and child education, congregational care, and worship, facility, and clergy leadership.

Published in the summer of 2009, The Unbroken Circle has been embraced by congregationally-based clergy and nurses, chaplains in health care settings, educators in seminaries and clinical pastoral education programs, and students interested in spiritual dimensions of caring for those with advanced illness.