Nursing, religiosity, and end-of-life care: interconnections and implications

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Medical Ethics
• Sociology of Religion

Background:

• The role of religious beliefs and practices in end-of-life care is under-researched.
• Nursing's advocacy role necessitates understanding the intersection of religiosity and end-of-life care.
• The nurse-patient relationship is deeply impacted by spiritual and religious dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the influence of nurses' personal belief systems on end-of-life patient care.
• To investigate how nurses' understanding of their own beliefs affects patient care.
• To highlight the importance of respecting patients' religious needs in end-of-life settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research exploring nurses' perspectives.
• Analysis of the interplay between nurses' religiosity and patient care practices.
• Exploration of the humanistic aspects of the nurse-patient relationship.

Main Results:

• Nurses' self-awareness of their beliefs is crucial for objective patient care.
• Respect for patient religiosity enhances the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.
• Understanding and respecting diverse religious practices improves end-of-life care quality.

Conclusions:

• Further investigation into religiosity and end-of-life care is essential.
• Nurses' self-reflection on beliefs can improve patient-centered care.
• Integrating religious sensitivity into nursing practice deepens humanistic care.