Spirituality: Living Our Connectedness

SPIRITUALITY: Living Our Connectedness. Margaret A. Burkhardt and Mary Gail Nagai-Jacobson. New York: Delmar, 2002.380pp.For Florence Nightingale, spirituality was at the core of the work she has accomplished in the area of human caring with a holistic perspective. That legacy lives on in this extraordinary piece of work by Burkhardt and Nagai-Jacobson. This book functions as a text as well a personal guide for nurses and other health care providers on a quest for spiritual awakening.The authors present a thorough and solid foundation for the importance of paying attention to the spiritual aspects and interactions of patients as well as the nurse. A substantial reference section supports each chapter for the reader and/or student to utilize in pursuing the topics at more depth. In addition, the authors offer a variety of methodologies to achieve connectedness, person with person, person with the environment and person with the spiritual entity that resonates with h/her culture.Complementary/Alternative methodologies are suggested for use with patients and for self-enlightenment. Assessment tools for determining spiritual needs are offered as well as suggested interventions toward developing a deeper spiritual understand of self and the persons with whom the health care provider interacts.The editors of the West Virginia Nurse give this well researched text five stars and two thumbs up and recommend it for personal as well as curricular use. The authors have presented a well developed text that is readable as well as educational.