The Joint Commission provides some guidelines for creating spiritual assessment tools for evaluating the spiritual needs of patients. Using these resources and any other guidelines/examples you can find, make up your own tool for assessing the spiritual needs of patients.

1. The spiritual-needs assessment tool should include a minimum of five questions that can either be answered by the patient and/or by your observation of the patient. The information can be presented in a Word document, in a table, or in questionnaire format.

Using your assessment-tool questions, practice completing a spiritual assessment with a patient, family member, or friend.

Once complete, analyze your results in 750-1000 words, with the following:

1. Write a brief summary of your assessment findings.

2. What significant discoveries did you make about the individual you chose to assess?

3. What went well?

4. What would you do differently in the future?

5. Were there any barriers or challenges that inhibited your ability to complete the assessment tool? How would you address these in the future or change your assessment to better address these challenges?

6. Describe the spiritual experience you had with your patient, family member, or friend using this tool. How does this tool allow you to better meet the needs of your patient?

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Submit your assessment tool, patient answers, and your analysis of how the assessment went to the instructor.

Q: Does the Joint Commission specify what needs to be included in a spiritual assessment?

A: No. Your organization would define the content and scope of spiritual and other assessments and the qualifications of the individual(s) performing the assessment.

Examples of elements that could be but are not required in a spiritual assessment include the following questions directed to the patient or his/her family:

• Who or what provides the patient with strength and hope?

• Does the patient use prayer in their life?

• How does the patient express their spirituality?

• How would the patient describe their philosophy of life?

• What type of spiritual/religious support does the patient desire?

• What is the name of the patient's clergy, ministers, chaplains, pastor, rabbi?

• What does suffering mean to the patient?

• What does dying mean to the patient?

• What are the patient's spiritual goals?

• Is there a role of church/synagogue in the patient's life?

• How does your faith help the patient cope with illness?

• How does the patient keep going day after day?

• What helps the patient get through this health care experience?

• How has illness affected the patient and his/her family?