Prayers

Sample Nursing Care Plan with Prayers and resources: 

Spiritual Distress Nursing Care Plan: Teaching Guide for Catholic Patients

Spiritual Distress: At risk for an impaired ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life through a connectedness with self, others, art, music, literature, nature, and/or a power greater than one-self (NANDA, 2012, p. 412).

Spiritual Distress r/t dysfunctional grieving over loss as evidenced by anger at God, questioning meaning of life, inability to receive spiritual support. (Townsend, 2014, p. 400)

Goal/Outcome identification: Client will identify meaning and purpose in life, moving forward with hope for the future…expresses achievement of support and personal satisfaction from spiritual practices.  (Townsend).

Interventions: Please call a Catholic priest for the Anointing of the Sick Sacrament for seriously ill Catholic patients, with their permission. Eucharistic strength, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick. The rosary! PRAYER! You can also bless patient with Holy Water. Please pray The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, and Scriptures for example: The Fruits & Gifts of the Holy Spirit to help you and your patients. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and to help others. Praising and thanking God is a very powerful prayer! There are many Scriptures of praise, i.e., "Praise God in all circumstances" (I Thes 5:18) and "God inhabits the praises of His people" (Ps 22:3).

Galatians 5:22-24 Fruits of the Holy Spirit Pray for more Divine:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self-control

Corinthians 12: 8-10 Gifts of the Holy Spirit Pray for more Divine:

Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment of Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues

Please pray for God's Grace and the Virtues to help you in your holy work:

            Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, & Love

            Cardinal Virtues: Temperance, Prudence, Courage, Justice (and Truth).

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly.

See YouTube for wonderful free Praise & Worship music to lift the soul!

See USCCB.org for more Scriptures, prayers, resources

Preview Handout Spiritual Interventions for Holistic Healing, notes, rev. 5/29/24

Spiritual Interventions for Holistic Healing notes:

1. “God Loves You. God Loves You. God Loves you.” See the “Jesus, I trust in you” Divine Mercy image, graces to the fountain of mercy, St. Faustina thedivinemercy.org.
2. Prayer: “pray unceasingly” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. An honest 2-way conversation with God. LISTEN “speak Lord for your servant is listening”1 Samuel 3. See the movie The War Room. Spend time in your “prayer closet” or meeting place with God, prayer warrior interceding for others, praying the Word of God as a sword Ephesians 5:25.
3. Prayer Journal. Reflection (stop and think) + Scripture + Prayer + Praise. Quiet time with God “writing a letter to God.” Ask for God’s presence, invite in the Holy Spirit.
4. Praise God in all circumstances [give thanks] 1 Thess. 5:18, Ps. 34. God inhabits the praises of his people Ps. 22:3. Praise & Worship music. Bursts through the “dark haze.”
5. Pray for Truth. Philosophers say that a lie can make you crazy because our intellect seeks the truth. Trauma allows a lie to affect your thinking, your perceptions, your emotions and how you live. See Dr. Ed Smith’s teaching “to bust through the original lie” at: www.transformationprayer.org.
6. Meditation on Holy Scripture and other holy readings. Hosea 4:6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the Bible.
7. Suffering, Soul Wounds & Inner Healing “And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28; “God gave me a wake-up call, I was going down the wrong path”. Spiritual Awakening. How does God redeem our suffering into a blessing?
8. Virtue “do good”: Faith, Hope, Love, Prudence (good care of self/healthy boundaries/Al-Anon), Courage, Justice (give others what is due them), Temperance. Prayer leads to virtue, which leads to acts of corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and growth in holiness through God’s grace (grace is defined as an unmerited or unearned gift of Divine favor).
9. Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Goodness, Generosity, & Self-control. Gal. 5:22 and “you will know them by their fruits” Mt. 7:20. Or “actions speak louder than words.” Useful for spiritual discernment.
10. Gifts from the Holy Spirit: Wisdom; Knowledge; Faith; Healing; Miracles; Prophecy; Spiritual Discernment; Prayer language; Interpretation of that prayer language for the good of the Assembly, I Cor. 12. Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Rom. 12:6-8. For example, pray that you and your caregivers have Godly wisdom and knowledge for your treatment and healing.
11. “Calling,” purpose, meaning, vocation, being obedient to God, using the gifts God has given you for the good of the community. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. See also Jer. 31.
12. Gather together in fellowship. “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation 2023: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.” Do not isolate, can cause premature death, mental health symptoms to decompensate, addiction relapse, and sin “backsliding.” If you do not feel God’s presence or connection, and are not experiencing God’s love & peace, consider are you separated by sin, un-forgiveness, rebellion? Do you have a prayer partner or spiritual director? Are you spending time with God and God’s Word? What places do you go to connect or belong (virtual, or in-person Church community, walk outside, forest may mean “for-rest;” 12-Step meetings; phone calls; volunteering; decrease social media and increase real in-person connections, e.g., even Jesus chose to be in community with 12 Apostles). If you do not have a place to worship, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you.
13. Obey The Ten Commandments Deuteronomy 5; Exodus 20; reference 2 Chronicles 34:
    1. I. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me. Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God? 
    2. II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Have my words, actively or passively, put down God, the Church, or people?
    3. III. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Do I avoid, when possible, work that impedes worship to God, joy for the Lord’s Day, and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I look for ways to spend time with family or in service on the Sabbath?
    4. IV. Honor your father and your mother. Do I show my parents due respect? Do I seek to maintain honest communication with my parents where possible? Do I criticize them for lacking skills I think they should have?
    5. V. You shall not kill. Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means, including gossip or manipulation of any kind?
    6. VI. You shall not commit adultery. Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others and of myself?
    7. VII. You shall not steal. Have I taken or wasted time or resources that belonged to another?
    8. VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Have I gossiped, told lies, or embellished stories at the expense of another?
    9. IX. You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse. Have I honored my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love?
    10. X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. Am I content with my own means and

needs, or do I com­pare myself to others unnecessarily?

14. Repent: (Turn away from/turn back to God/do a 180). Change of heart, being truly sorry for what you find in Galatians 5:19. Abstain from temptations, addictions, and deadly sins you know you should resist, can be related to depression, obsession, oppression, and possession. “Flee” I Cor. 6:18. Ask for God’s help. Confess your sins, wiped away, freedom, new life.
15. Forgiveness & Reconciliation. See The Healing Prayer at Bedtime. This includes self-forgiveness for our own mistakes and sins, “like God forgives me for what I’ve done.” To reconcile is ideal, where possible and safe. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Talk to someone first (counselor, pastor, sponsor). “Pure of heart” ---caution with domestic violence. Humbly reconcile with God who forgives our sins if we ask and repent.
16. Abundant Life. We are all called to holiness and God promises us a New Life. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10. May God bless, protect, provide for, love and heal you, Chaplain Teresa

Spiritual Interventions for Holistic Healing notes, rev., 5/29/24.

References:

Arvonio, Maria Marra. "Cultural Compentency, autonomy, and spiritual conflicts related to Reiki/CAM therapies: Should patients be informed?" The Linacre Quarterly , 2014: 47-56.

Association, American Nurses Association and American Holistic Nurses. Holistic Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, Third Edition. Silver Springs, Maryland: American Nurses Association and American Holistic Nurses Association, 2019.

Bishops, Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic. Ethical and Religious Directives for the Catholic Health Care Service, Sixth Edition. Directives. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019. 1-42.

Brykczynska, Gosia. Blessed Hanna Chrzanowska, RN: A Nurse of Mercy. Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press, 2019.

Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2018.

John Paul, II. "Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris On The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering." Vatican.va. February 11, 1984. https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11 (accessed May 26, 2019).

Kreeft, Peter. "The Eighth Commandment: Truth. Part Three. Section Ten of Catholic Christianity." In Catholic Christianity. The Luke E. Hart Series, by General Editor John A. Farren, 10. New Haven, CT: Catholic Information Services. Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, 2001.

Teresa, Mother. In the Heart of the World: Throughts, Stories, and Prayers. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2010.

Townsend, Mary C. Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts of Evidence-Based Practices, Sixth Edition. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company, 2014.

VanderWeele, Tyler J, Alexander Tsai, Ichiro Kawachi, Shanshan Li. "Association Between Religious Service Attendance and Lower Suicide Rates Among US Women." JAMA Psychiatry, 2016: 845-51.

See also the National Association of Catholic Nurses website https://nacn-usa.org

Chaplain Teresa D. Sipos, DMin., RN