Softening suffering through spiritual care practices: one possibility for healing families

Nurses are engaged and encounter suffering routinely and commonly in their everyday practice. It is therefore a moral and ethical obligation for nurses to soften the emotional, physical, and spiritual suffering of the individuals and families in their care. Softening suffering is the heart of nursing. However, this article ponders the question, "What happened to suffering in nursing care?" A discussion of suffering is explored from many aspects, such as what invites suffering and the connection of suffering to spirituality. Lessons learned from the author's clinical practice and research are described, such as acknowledging suffering, social support, hope and prayer, and individual and family counseling. Finally, seven spiritual care practices within the Trinity Model that have shown to be useful in softening suffering are offered. An actual clinical example is woven throughout to illustrate the benefits of these spiritual care practices in the mission of softening illness suffering.