A holistic nursing model for spiritual care of the terminally ill

Terms such as religion and spirituality usually imply a mature understanding of philosophical values of life principles and existence. In a holistic paradigm, nurses are ethically obligated to support spiritual aspects of care just as they do the biophysical elements. But how often is this all important step overlooked in our assessments and interventions? This essay contains a discussion of basic spiritual and religious principles, the moral obligations to alleviate spiritual suffering and the principles of altruism, beneficence, goodness, individuality, and the need for continuing spiritual education as a component of a holistically competent practice.