Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing
Open Access

Nurse perceptions; Health care settings; Personal spirituality

Introduction

The import of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing is highly influenced by the nurses’ perceptions and competence [1]. Studies show that nurses holds widely varying perceptions of the concept of spirituality, and they show at least some competence for spiritual care [2]. These studies show results from specific health care contexts and reported results in general without taking in account the working context of nurses. The study reported in this paper explores whether the work and organizational context of nurses influences their perception of spirituality and competence in spiritual care.

The spiritual dimension of the patient’s condition is deeply subjective [3], which means that the patient’s interpretation of spirituality depends upon his or her personal view of life and existence. In this way, spirituality can be interpreted as a functional concept. Defining spirituality this way, it is an umbrella concept that covers a family of underlying concepts. Despite the absence of a paradigmatic definition in nursing, attempts are being made toward consensus about the definition of spirituality. Recently, an agreement was reached about the following definition of spirituality within the context of palliative care: spirituality is a dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which persons seek ultimate meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and experience relationships to self, family, others, community, society, nature, and the significant or sacred. Spirituality is expressed through beliefs, values, traditions, and practices [4]. Studies provide a growing insight in what spirituality means within the context of health care in general and more specifically, in nursing. Other than the “definition issue”, the relevance of spirituality and spiritual care for nursing becomes clearer in practice related research.

The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the different perceptions and competences regarding spirituality and spiritual care between hospital nurses, mental health nurses, and nurses in home care settings [5]. Furthermore, to consider the consequences of the findings for nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing management.

Compared to nurses in hospital care, overall, nurses in mental health care and home care have a more generic (instead of more specific) view of spirituality and spiritual care, have a higher level of perceived competence, and see themselves more as spiritual persons. The most important factor that contributes to perceptions of spirituality and competence in spiritual care is the nurse’s personal spirituality. Setting specific factors that influence perception on spirituality and competence in spiritual care that are related to working settings of nurses deserve further in depth research.

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