Spiritual development in Iranian nurses.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Socialization Studies
• Healthcare Ethics

Background:

• Spiritual development is crucial for socialization and high-quality patient care.
• Existing definitions of spiritual development lack clarity, particularly in Eastern contexts.
• Understanding spiritual development is essential for training nursing students and novice nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the concept of spiritual development among nurses in Iran.
• To explore the unique aspects of spiritual development within the Iranian nursing context.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative content analysis approach was employed.
• Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 purposefully selected Iranian Muslim nurses.
• Ethical considerations, including autonomy, confidentiality, and anonymity, were strictly adhered to, following the Helsinki Declaration.

Main Results:

• Three core themes emerged: obligation to religion, commitment to ethics, and commitment to law.
• Key factors identified include connection to divine power, personal/societal ethical codes, and adherence to legal frameworks.
• Findings indicate a unique relationship between spirituality, religion, and law in this population.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights differences from previous research, particularly regarding the interplay of spirituality, religion, and law.
• Results suggest incorporating humanistic principles, ethics, and law into nursing education to enhance community health.
• Further research is recommended to explore the relationships between these identified themes.