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Background The term spirituality is highly subjective. No common or universally accepted definition for the term exists. Without a clear definition, each nurse must reconcile his or her own beliefs within a framework mutually suitable for both nurse and patient. Objectives To examine individual critical care nurses’ definition of spirituality, their comfort in providing spiritual care to patients, and their perceived need for education in providing this care. Methods Individual interviews with 30 nurses who worked in a critical care unit at a large Midwestern teaching hospital. Results Nurses generally feel comfortable providing spiritual care to critically ill patients but need further education about multicultural considerations. Nurses identified opportunities to address spiritual needs throughout a patient’s stay but noted that these needs are usually not addressed until the end of life. Conclusions A working definition for spirituality in health care was developed: That part of person that gives meaning and purpose to the person’s life. Belief in a higher power that may inspire hope, seek resolution, and transcend physical and conscious constraints.

The intent of this project was to create a formalized educational program for bedside nurses responsible for inpatient diabetes management. Bedside nurses are recruited to serve as diabetes management mentors. The mentors receive advanced education concerning teaching and learning principles, the AADE7™ Self-Care Behaviors, and diabetes management strategies. They teach their peers, advocate for patients, and facilitate referrals for outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) programs. The focus of these ongoing educational activities is to foster the development of diabetes management mentors and to create teaching tools that mentors can use with peers to address practice gaps or skill deficiencies. The diabetes management mentor is integral in enhancing the care of patients with diabetes in the hospital. The empowerment of bedside nurses as mentors for their peers and their patients is an invaluable asset that helps nurses take ownership of their practice. This role could be applied to other complex disease entities, helping nurses to develop specific management skills to improve patient outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction.