Spiritual Health First Aid for Self-Care: Nursing During COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Spiritual Care
• Public Health Emergencies

Background:

• Nurses faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The inability of families to be present during end-of-life care intensified patient and nurse distress.
• Spiritual well-being is a critical component of nursing care and resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical need for spiritual self-care among nurses.
• To introduce the concept of a "spiritual first aid kit" as a coping mechanism.
• To emphasize the importance of spiritual self-care for nurses' overall health.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of nursing experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Literature review on spiritual care and self-care strategies for healthcare professionals.
• Conceptualization of a spiritual first aid kit.

Main Results:

• Nurses providing end-of-life care during COVID-19 experienced significant spiritual distress.
• The absence of family support exacerbated the need for spiritual resources.
• Spiritual self-care was identified as essential for maintaining nurse well-being.

Conclusions:

• Spiritual self-care is indispensable for nurses, particularly those in high-stress environments.
• A "spiritual first aid kit" offers a practical approach to support nurses' spiritual needs.
• Prioritizing nurses' spiritual health is crucial for sustainable healthcare practice.