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Nursing competencies for spiritual care

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  • Donia R Baldacchino

Abstract

Aim and objectives. The aim of this paper is to reveal the main nursing competencies for spiritual care, which emerged from data collecting from qualified nurses in Malta. Background. For nurses to deliver spiritual care, they must be competent to provide care on a physical, mental, social and spiritual level. As spiritual care may be influenced by culture, this study explored the competencies for spiritual care from the Maltese nurses’ perspective. Methods. A descriptive exploratory study investigated nurses’ competencies in the delivery of spiritual care to patients with myocardial infarction. Data were collected by means of an open‐ended questionnaire on qualified nurses (n = 77) followed by an in‐depth interview on a stratified random sample (n = 14) of nurses from the same respondents. Results. The four main nursing competencies identified were associated with the role of the nurse as a professional and as an individual person; delivery of spiritual care by the nursing process; nurses’ communication with patients, inter‐disciplinary team and clinical/educational organizations and safeguarding ethical issues in care. Conclusion. This study demonstrated the complexity of spiritual care, which requires nurses to increase their awareness of the uniqueness of each individual patient with regard to the connection between mind, body and spirit; the assessment of the spiritual status of patients during illness and the implementation of holistic care as recommended by the Nursing Code of Ethics. Relevance to clinical practice. These findings will enable nurses to consider the importance of spiritual care, which may allow them to help empower patients find meaning and purpose during times of illness. More emphasis should be put on spiritual care in the pre‐ and postregistration education. Further research to translate these main competencies into specific competencies will guide spiritual care.

Suggested Citation

  • Donia R Baldacchino, 2006. "Nursing competencies for spiritual care," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(7), pages 885-896, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:15:y:2006:i:7:p:885-896
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2006.01643.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Suh‐Ing Hsieh & Li‐Ling Hsu & Chen‐Yi Kao & Sara Breckenridge‐Sproat & Hui‐Ling Lin & Hsiu‐Chen Tai & Tzu‐Hsin Huang & Tsung‐Lan Chu, 2020. "Factors associated with spiritual care competencies in Taiwan’s clinical nurses: A descriptive correlational study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(9-10), pages 1599-1613, May.
    2. Elizabeth Batstone & Cara Bailey & Nutmeg Hallett, 2020. "Spiritual care provision to end‐of‐life patients: A systematic literature review," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(19-20), pages 3609-3624, October.
    3. Leodoro J. Labrague & Denise M. McEnroe-Petitte & Romeo H. Achaso Jr. & Geifsonne S. Cachero & Mary Rose A. Mohammad, 2016. "Filipino Nurses’ Spirituality and Provision of Spiritual Nursing Care," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 25(6), pages 607-625, December.
    4. Jane Bacon Pfeiffer & Carla Gober & Elizabeth Johnston Taylor, 2014. "How Christian nurses converse with patients about spirituality," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(19-20), pages 2886-2895, October.
    5. Pranee C Lundberg & Petcharat Kerdonfag, 2010. "Spiritual care provided by Thai nurses in intensive care units," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(7‐8), pages 1121-1128, April.
    6. Donna D Kincheloe & Lois M Stallings Welden & Ann White, 2018. "A Spiritual Care Toolkit: An evidence‐based solution to meet spiritual needs," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(7-8), pages 1612-1620, April.

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