Friday, April 22, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Should You Pray for Your Patients? This Nurse Says Yes! 5 Evidence-Based Reasons
Should You Pray for Your Patients? This Nurse Says Yes! 5 Evidence-Based Reasons
By: LeAnn Thieman
Since we nurses are proud to deliver evidence-based care, we cannot neglect the proven benefits of prayer in healing our patients.
Gallup polls show that 95% of Americans believe in God. 90% pray. With these statistics, how can we not offer prayer as an adjunct to their healing? Consider this research proving the health benefits:
- Patients affiliated with a religious community had 50% shorter hospital stays than those with none. Those who attend church, temple, or mosque regularly have half the levels of the blood protein interleukin-6, which, in high levels, is associated with AIDS, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. (Duke University’s Center for the Study of Religion, Spirituality, and Health)
- Prayer and religious rituals can relieve stress. Praying 10-20 minutes a day can decrease blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and metabolic rates. (Harvard’s Mind/Body Institute)
- Patients who were prayed for but didn’t know it had fewer life-threatening complications and needed less medication. (San Francisco Medical Center)
- There is now convincing evidence that people who have strong spiritual beliefs do better, even in serious illness. (St Luke’s Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO..
- Over half of America’s medical schools now teach courses in religion and spirituality and the important impact on patient health. 99% of doctors believe there is an important relationship between the spirit and the flesh. (Associated Press.)
Perhaps nurses don’t introduce the idea of prayer because we feel uncertain or awkward. Sometimes saying, (if applicable), “I said a prayer for you today” is a simple way to bring up the topic. Their reaction usually dictates further discussion. If they indicate they are grateful, you can say something fun and non-threatening like, “There’s a lot more where that came from! Would you like to chat with our chaplain? He/she ministers to people of all faiths.” Another response might be to ask “Are there any prayers you’d like to say together?”
It’s important to use universal terms until you know the person’s religious affiliation. “Higher Power”, “Creator,” or “the God you believe in” are generally accepted by those who believe. Listen next for the word they use, then repeat that as you converse and pray.
Often a prayer can be as simple as saying “God, take good care of Margaret today.”
Ask them if there is anyone they would like you to call to pray with them, making sure they understand this is not an offer reserved for fatally ill people only! They might ask to talk with their rabbi, pastor, or even a friend from their church, synagogue or mosque.
Perhaps the best way for you to find the right words to open this discussion with your patients is to pray to the God you believe in. Your Creator will give you the words and both you and those you touch will be blessed.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Definition
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM IV), defines oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) as a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least 6 months. ODD is a condition in which a child displays an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, hostile, and annoying behavior toward people in authority. The child’s behavior often disrupts the child’s normal daily activities, including activities within the family and at school.
Causes and Risk Factors
The causative factors can be divided into categories, namely:
- Biological Factor. Aggressive behavior may be caused by alterations in the neurotransmitter activity of the brain. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of ODD, and other mental illnesses. Also, some studies suggest that defects in or injuries to certain areas of the brain can lead to serious behavioral problems in children.
- Familial Factor. Familial influences on child development may be genetically linked, attributed to conflict in the family home or based on parent-child interactions. Additionally, a parent’s prior aggressive behavior (in childhood) has been shown to manifest itself in their child at the same age.
- Genetics. Many children and teens with ODD have close family members with mental illnesses, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. This suggests that a vulnerability to develop ODD may be inherited.
- Environmental. Factors such as a dysfunctional family life, a family history of mental illnesses and/or substance abuse and inconsistent discipline by parents may contribute to the development of behavior disorders.
Clinical Manifestations
- Actively does not follow adults’ requests
- Angry and resentful of others
- Argues with adults
- Blames others for own mistakes
- Has few or no friends or has lost friends
- Is in constant trouble in school
- Loses temper
- Spiteful or seeks revenge
- Touchy or easily annoyed
Diagnosis
To fit this diagnosis, the pattern must last for at least 6 months and must be characterized by the frequent occurrence of at least four of the following behaviors: losing temper, arguing with adults, actively defying or refusing to comply with the requests or rules of adults, deliberately doing things that will annoy other people, blaming others for his or her own mistakes or misbehavior, being touchy or easily annoyed by others, being angry and resentful, or being spiteful or vindictive.
Management of Children with ODD
- Behavior management techniques. Use behavior contracts.
- Be fair but be firm, give respect to get respect.
- Using a consistent approach to discipline and following through with positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors. Apply effective contingencies that are consistent responses to the child’s behavior, following through with appropriate rewards and consequences when these are needed.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
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