Spiritual Care

Abstract

Spiritual care has long been recognized as an essential component in providing holistic care to patients. However, many nurses have acknowledged that their education lacked practical guidelines on how to provide culturally competent spiritual care. Although all nurses are required to provide spiritual care, rehabilitation nurses are particularly challenged to be competent in this area, due to the lengthy recovery time and special needs often presented by rehabilitation patients. This article provides practical guidelines for rehabilitation nurses, to assist patients in meeting their spiritual needs.

Spiritual care in nursing: a concept analysis

“…Moreover, spiritual care provides patient satisfaction (Rieg et al. ), improves nurses’ spiritual awareness (Narayanasamy ), gives meaning and purpose to nurses’ professional life and provides them with job satisfaction (Rieg et al. ).…”

“…Other positive consequences of spiritual care include greater reality acceptance (Mok et al 2010), inner peace (McEwen 2005), reality-based peace (Mayer 1992), alleviation of anxiety (Carson & Koenig 2008), alleviation of depression (Mauk & Schmidt 2004), alleviation of psychological distress (Meraviglia 1999), enhanced resiliency (Smith 2006), optimism in stressful situations (Brown & Lo 1999), effective stress management (Battey 2009), increased self-control (Martsolf & Mickley 1998) and self-confidence (Meraviglia 1999), and reclaim a self-concept (Mattison 2006). Moreover, spiritual care provides patient satisfaction (Rieg et al 2006), improves nurses' spiritual awareness (Narayanasamy 2001), gives meaning and purpose to nurses' professional life and provides them with job satisfaction (Rieg et al 2006).…”

Utilization of Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice in Public Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…In addition, researchers ( [2], p. 1; [16,17]) portrayed spirituality as referring to a universal concept of connection with a Supreme Being related to membership of and adherence to the practice of a particular faith, tradition or sect that does not necessarily require any religious belief. In contrast, several writers still posit that religion and spirituality are inseparable, and both constructs can be used interchangeably ( [18], p. 106; [19], p. 249; [20], p. 240; [21], p. 135). Following a similar trend Deal [22] and Barlow ([2], p. 1) commented that using spiritual or religious resources gives patients and families strength to cope during crisis.…”

Who can give ‘spiritual care’? The management of spiritually sensitive interactions between nurses and patients

“…In a slightly different context, Curlin and Hall (2005) conclude that recasting the relationship between patient and physician as one of friendship sets aside the insoluble questions around competence, autonomy and neutrality and emphasizes instead the requirement for virtue on the part of the physician: for wisdom, respect and candour. As Reig et al. (2006) put it, ‘The essence of providing spiritual care is the therapeutic use of self’.…”