Developing a nursing perspective on spirituality and healing.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Theory
• Spirituality Research
• Holistic Health

Background:

• Spirituality and healing are foundational concepts in nursing, as recognized by pioneers like Nightingale.
• Existing nursing theories vary in their explicit attention to spirituality.
• Some prominent nursing theorists (e.g., Watson, Neuman, Roy) integrate spirituality into their frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of nursing theoretical perspectives on spirituality.
• To explore the interrelationship between spirituality and healing within nursing.
• To suggest research directions for investigating spirituality and healing in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of nursing research and theoretical thinking on spirituality.
• Analysis of theoretical conceptualizations, including those building on Rogers' science.
• Examination of the connection between spirituality and healing in existing research.

Main Results:

• Spirituality and healing are considered crucial in both totality and simultaneity paradigms, though definitions vary.
• While some theorists omit spirituality, others explicitly incorporate it.
• Theoretical work has begun to conceptualize spirituality within nursing science (e.g., Reed, Malinski, Smith).

Conclusions:

• Spirituality and healing are vital, interconnected concepts in nursing theory and practice.
• Further research is needed to clarify and integrate these concepts within nursing frameworks.
• Nursing theoretical frameworks can guide future research on spirituality and healing.