Spirituality and Reflective Writing: A Body System and Its Relation to Spirituality
The human body is applied biochemistry. It is amazing workmanship that would require a degree of skill that MIT engineers would just dream of. Body systems are functionally complete but also interdependent such that they work as an orchestra to bring about smooth running of all body functions. To this end and from a spiritual perspective, the body system that fascinates me most as a creation of God is the circulatory (cardiovascular) system. The disease that also fascinates me and that affects this system is myocardial infarction or MI. Spirituality Reflective Writing Essay Example The aspects of normal anatomy related to the circulatory (cardiovascular) system and that are interesting to me as well as the reasons why are:
- The heart acts as the control and distribution center that begins work a few weeks after conception in the mother’s womb (uterus) and works 24/7 without resting for the rest of a person’s life. No human being – not even the best engineers at MIT or NASA – have been able to produce a machine that can work for 100 years or more without needing any sort of maintenance.
- The heart chambers are divided into four with one side of the heart carrying deoxygenated blood and the other carrying oxygenated blood. What is amazing is that this is the same blood that moves from the right side of the heart via the lungs to the left side of the heart. In the process, the blood loses its carbon dioxide and acquires oxygen that it then takes to the rest of the body’s tissues in an organized, systematic, and automatic manner. Why this interesting and awesome is that this happens from the time one is in their mother’s womb up to the time that they will die of old age if they happen to live their full lifespan. This can be 100 years or 876,000 hours of nonstop operation. In this, the anatomy of the heart and structures attached to it are exceptional. Deoxygenated blood comes into the right atrium (upper right chamber) from all over the body via the inferior and superior vena cava. It is then moved into the right ventricle (right lower chamber) that then pumps it to the lungs to give up its CO2 and pick up O2 through the pulmonary artery (the only artery that carries deoxygenated blood). Oxygenated blood will the come back to the heart on the left side into the left atrium (upper left chamber) through the pulmonary vein (the only vein that carries oxygenated blood). The blood is then pumped into the left atrium (left lower chamber) which the strongly pushes the blood through the aorta to the rest of the body. This is nothing short of amazing engineering and workmanship.
Factors that Have Caused Damage and How the Healing Process Can be Restored
In myocardial infarction, the factors that have caused damage to the normal anatomy and physiology are the processes of atherosclerosis and coagulation. Atherosclerosis occurs insidiously when fatty plaques of cholesterol are deposited in the tunica intima of the blood vessels. Usually, these are the arteries that supply the myocardium or heart muscle. As the plaque grows in size, the lumen becomes smaller with smaller and smaller amounts of oxygenated blood reaching the myocardium. The blood velocity at the point of occlusion increases in line with Bernoulli’s Principle and this causes trauma. The trauma encourages coagulation with the clot finally dislodging and moving to a point towards the heart where the lumen is too small. The clot causes total occlusion and the heart muscle supplied dies due to lack of oxygen (myocardial infarction). If the heart attack does not result in death, coronary angiography can be done where a catheter is inserted to the occlusion and the atheroma as well as the clot removed manually under radiologic visualization. Alternatively, clot dissolution can be achieved pharmacologically in the critical care unit. These two strategies will restore the healing process. At this time, the nurse will take care of the spiritual aspect of the patient’s holistic care to facilitate healing (Hussey, 2009; Mauk & Schmidt, 2004).
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The Role of Prayer, Religion, and Culture
Spirituality is one of the domains of holistic care. The others include the physical, the psychological, and the cultural. Prayer will therefore prepare the patient for any eventuality and will enable them to face death knowing there is life after death, if the heart attack is fatal. As for religion, a religious person will expect healing just as Jesus performed healing miracles without discriminating between sinners and the righteous (White, 2011). Lastly but not least, the patient’s cultural beliefs must always be respected as they have an influence in making them believe they will be healed or not. An example is the belief in the spirits of ancestors to heal. Spirituality Reflective Writing Essay Example
References
Hussey, T. (2009). Nursing and spirituality. Nursing Philosophy, 10(2), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-769x.2008.00387.x
Mauk, K.L., & Schmidt, N.K. (2004). Spiritual care in nursing practice. Lippincott.
White, E.G. (2011). The ministry of healing. White Crow Books.
Select a body system and identify one disease process that fascinates you most as a creation of God. Answer the following questions relating to the disease process.
- What aspects of normal anatomy is interesting to you and why?
- What factors have caused the damage to the normal anatomy and physiology?
- How can we restore the healing process?
- What is the role of prayer, influence of religion and culture relating to this disease process?
- Conclusion with a call to action or something meaningful to remember
| NURS 233 Pathophysiology | Chapt 5 Healing of the Soul
Chapt 16 Prayer for the Sick
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Chapter 4 Introduction to Influences of Religion and Culture on Nursing |
Grading Criteria
You have been assigned required readings on spirituality in your course. You may choose one or more chapters from each assigned book to read. You will then write a reflection paper regarding your thoughts, meaningful ideas, feelings, and/or reactions, and the application of these to nursing practice or your own spiritual growth and self-care.
| 1. Paper is typed in at least 2-3 pages, double spaced and turned in on time via D2L or email to your professor, with coversheet title page in APA format; thoughtful, suitable title | 10 Points | |
| 2. Introductory paragraph is attention-getting
|
10 Points | |
| 3. Spelling, grammar, mechanics, and usage are correct throughout paper | 10 Points | |
| 4. Answers all questions and thoughts are expressed in a coherent and logical manner. | 20 Points | |
| 5. Viewpoints and interpretations are insightful, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge, and understanding of the disease process and reflecting the role of prayer, region and culture influence on healing on the disease process. . | 20 Points | |
| 6. Concluding paragraph sums up information, reiterates ideas and opinions, and leaves reader with a call to action or something meaningful to remember | 10 Points | |
| 7. Pertinent reference sources are skillfully woven throughout paper without over use of quotations but, rather, attempt to paraphrase | 10 Points | |
| 8. References are properly cited in APA format with no plagiarism. | 5 Points | |
| 9. At least 3 references are cited in paper, including a reference from current class assigned chapter readings in Mauk, a reading in an assigned chapter in White, Anatomy & Physiology, and pathophysiology text and one journal article of your own choice. | 5 Points | |
| Total | 100 Possible Points | Actual Points = |
References:
Mauk, K. L., & Schmidt, N. K. (2004). Spiritual care in nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.
White, E. G. (2011). The Ministry of healing. Guildford, UK: White Crow Books.
Journal article:
APA format reference that you may use for free:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
It is recommended that you upload your paper into Turnitin on D2L to check for plagiarism prior to submission to your professor. Also, to check for correct grammar, use the Grammar Tutor on D2L. Spirituality Reflective Writing Essay Example