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Fundamentals of Nursing

Key Terms

Fundamentals of NursingKey Terms

Key Terms

afterlife
what a person believes will happen after death; a place where the spirit goes after the death of the physical body
agnostic
someone who believes that ultimate reality is unknowable
atheist
someone who does not believe in any divine being or entity
baptize
to initiate or adopt into the faith (particularly Christianity)
breathwork
a technique involving intentional, controlled breathing to interrupt the stress cycle and promote relaxation
congregation
a group of people who worship together
ethnicity
the cultural, social, and ancestral characteristics that define a group of people sharing common historical roots, language, traditions, and often geographical origins
faith
a belief in something without proof
healer
an individual using faith and prayer to facilitate healing
holistic care model
a framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual well-being in patient care
hope
the desire for a certain outcome and the belief that it will happen
journaling
the act of writing one’s thoughts and documenting one’s feelings in a journal or diary
karma
the notion that one’s future happiness is caused by present actions; actions performed with good intent lead to future happiness, whereas actions performed with bad intent lead to future unhappiness
kosher diet
a diet that adheres to Jewish dietary laws (kashrut), governing which foods are permissible based on specific religious guidelines such as the separation of meat and dairy products and prohibitions on certain animals and their products
love
a strong feeling of affection
meditation
a focused way of deeply thinking and reflecting that promotes awareness and acceptance
mindfulness
the practice of being present in the moment and aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and environment
pastoral care services (also, spiritual counselors)
individuals who offer support to patients in exploring and expressing their spiritual needs
prayer
the practice of communicating with a higher power or divine entity
qigong
a traditional Chinese practice that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intention
reincarnation
the idea that a person’s soul or spirit is reborn into a new body
religion
a unified system of beliefs, values, and practices that a person holds sacred or considers to be spiritually significant
remembrance and renewal (R & R)
a practice that involves reflecting on the past while simultaneously revitalizing or rejuvenating oneself for the future
ritual
a defined practice that individuals or groups use to commemorate or cope with something
spiritual distress
a disruption to a person’s belief or value system
spiritual healing
a complementary form of medicine that embraces practices such as prayer to help a person focus on healing
spiritual well-being
a person’s sense of purpose or meaning in life
spirituality
a profound feeling of connection to a greater power than oneself, as well as the practices used to explore this feeling
transcendence
the experience of a reality beyond the physical or literal world
yoga
a practice that combines physical postures, controlled breathing, and mindfulness techniques to harmonize the mind, body, and spirit
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