Preparation to Provide Spiritual Care: A Qualitative Study of Recent Baccalaureate Nursing Graduates

Problem/Purpose:  Holistic assessment including the spiritual needs of patients is a standard of practice for RNs.  There is a paucity of research on preparing nurses for their role in the spiritual realm.  This study was conducted to understand experiences of recent graduates of a baccalaureate nursing program in learning to assess spiritual care needs, provide spiritual support and perceptions of their preparation for this role. 

Design:  Heideggarian hermeneutics guided in-depth interviews and team interpretation of data.  Graduates from 2006-2010 of a Christian Liberal Arts College in New York were recruited with postal and email invitations.  Telephone and in-person interviews of twelve RNs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in 2011-2012 for analysis.  The narratives were reviewed independently by the researchers who then met as a team to analyze the data and come to consensus on common meanings. This was followed by a member check to enhance rigor.

Findings:  Four themes and one constitutive pattern emerged:  Defining Spiritual Care, Learning Spiritual Care, Providing Spiritual Care, and Practical Advice for Faculty. A pattern of building relationships developed.

Discussion/Conclusions:Definitions of spiritual care interventions varied among study participants.  Experiences pre-college, in the classroom, clinical and outside the classroom contributed to learning to assess spiritual care needs and provide for spiritual care in clinical practice.  Participants discussed needing opportunities to grow spiritually and to make their faith their own during their college years. 

Implications for Education Practice:  Reflection, case studies and role modeling are important teaching strategies for preparing students to provide care in the spiritual realm.  Intentionally integrating whole person assessment in the classroom and providing opportunities for students to discuss and reflect on spiritual care in nursing helps prepare students. Opportunities to make connections and build relationships using therapeutic communication and presence are important in developing comfort with spiritual assessment and care.