Forgiveness and Religiosity Among Nurses: A Correlational Descriptive Study

The purpose of the study was to explore how nurses' religious beliefs affect their ability to forgive themselves and others. Design: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. Methods: The data were collected using an online survey via Qualtrics using three validated tools Enright Forgiveness Inventory - 30 (to measure forgiveness of others), Enright Self-Forgiveness Inventory (to measure forgiveness of self), and Duke University Religious Index (to measure religiosity). Findings: Forgiveness of others was associated with both non-organized religious activities and intrinsic religiosity. After controlling for other variables, non-organized religious activities continued to predict forgiveness of others but organized religious activities negatively predicted forgiveness of others. Self-forgiveness was not associated with any of the religiosity indicators, and in the regression model, the seriousness of self-offense alone uniquely explained self-forgiveness. Conclusion: Stressed nurses become distracted, may miss effective job performance, and patient care may suffer. Emotional and spiritual health and better patient outcomes can be attributed to the nurse forgiving others and the self. Nurses must be self-aware to develop forgiveness strategies for their well-being and provide effective care. Faculty should teach "person-centered" care and educate students to forgive others and themselves for effective patient care.