Nursing competencies for spiritual care

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Education
• Spiritual Care Research

Background:

• Limited clarity exists in Dutch nursing literature regarding essential nurse competencies for spiritual care.
• International literature offers some guidance but lacks conclusive evidence on required nurse qualities.
• Spiritual care is an emerging and developing area within the nursing profession.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define the necessary competencies for professional nurses to effectively provide spiritual care.
• To address the lack of clarity in existing nursing literature concerning spiritual care competencies.
• To establish a foundational framework for spiritual care competencies in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative literature review was performed to synthesize information from nursing literature.
• A structured format, utilized in higher nursing education in The Netherlands, guided the competency formulation.
• The review focused on identifying general domains, specific competencies, and learning objectives for spiritual care.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive competency profile for spiritual care in nursing was developed.
• The profile includes three core domains: awareness and use of self, spiritual dimensions of the nursing process, and assurance and quality of expertise.
• Six core competencies were identified: handling one's own beliefs, addressing the subject, collecting information, discussing and planning, providing and evaluating, and integrating into policy.

Conclusions:

• The developed competency profile provides a structured approach for future spiritual care initiatives in nursing.
• This framework can guide advancements in spiritual care delivery, research, and education for nurses.
• Further research and educational strategies are needed to integrate spiritual care competencies into nursing practice.