Spiritual Knowing

Abstract

Fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing have historically served to clarify the substance and structure of the discipline, significantly contributing to nursing's body of knowledge. In this article, we continue the scholarly conversation on patterns of knowing in nursing by advancing spiritual knowing as a pattern of knowing that helps advance nursing's agenda toward universal well-being and critical during this time toward interdisciplinarity. Implications for nursing are explored in relation to enduring and new questions that require our attention related to human beings, their environments, and healing.

Spirituality in Psychiatric Nursing: A Concept Analysis

“…Confidence and competence relate to clinical activities that enhance patients' physical and mental wellbeing. That nurses are not always comfortable extending their reach to spiritual care has been the focus of research by Willis and Leone-Sheehan (2019), who found that nurses consistently reported feeling unprepared to address issues of spirituality despite their acknowledgment of the necessity of addressing the spiritual in holistic care of patients.…”

Spiritual Knowing in Psychiatric Nursing

“…At the same time as the policy summit, an article was published in Advances in Nursing Science titled “Spiritual Knowing: Another Pattern of Knowing in the Discipline” (Willis & Leone-Sheehan, 2019). Much of this article involved nursing theory development and the role fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing have “historically served to clarify the substance and structure of the discipline, significantly contributing to nursing’s body of knowledge” (p. 58).…”

“…Willis and Leone-Sheehan (2019) described various patterns of knowing from nursing theorists such as Carper (1978), Meleis and Trangenstein (1994), Newman, Sime, and Corcoran-Perry (1991), and Chinn and Kramer (2011). Nursing embraces multiple ways of knowing as evidenced by each noted theory.…”

“…The premise of this article is that another pattern of knowing exists and is defined as “spiritual knowing.” The authors argue that the currently complicated social, historical, and political times characterized by “myriad threats to well-being; violence, environmental hazards, climate change, health inequities, drug crises, toxic stress, ruthless killings, suicide, technology information explosion, and other humanitarian crises” make a focus on spiritual knowing even more essential for nursing (Willis & Leone-Sheehan, 2019, p. 60). For psychiatric nurses dealing with compassion fatigue, the social injustices affecting populations they treat, and the relative unresponsiveness of society, this idea is not a new concept.…”

“…What exactly is “spiritual knowing”? The authors define it as humans “perceiving and appreciating of nonmaterial spiritual qualities and experiences that provide meaning and purpose, awareness of a greater reality, and uplifting of the human spirit” (Willis & Leone-Sheehan, 2019, p. 62). The definition is broad and suggests that nurses be tuned into the spiritual qualities that help facilitate wholeness, humanize, and provide meaning, healing, and choice while facilitating well-being.…”