Spiritual Care in Surgical Nursing Practice in Türkiye: A Qualitative Study of Nurses' Experiences and Barriers

Spiritual care is an essential element of holistic nursing, particularly in surgical settings where patients often experience heightened emotional and existential distress. Despite its relevance, it remains underutilized due to nurses' limited training and systemic barriers. This qualitative study aimed to explore surgical nurses' perceptions, experiences, and challenges in providing spiritual care. A qualitative design using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach was employed. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 surgical nurses from nine cities in Türkiye, selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity in experience and institutional background. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed following the six phases of thematic analysis. Rigor was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and maintaining an audit trail. The analysis yielded four major themes: understanding spirituality, experiences of spiritual care, perceived barriers, and professional responsibility. Nurses generally conceptualize spirituality as a source of personal meaning and peace, often extending beyond religious practices. None of the participants had formal education in spiritual care, and many expressed a lack of confidence and clarity in their roles. Despite systemic barriers, nurses demonstrated a compassionate willingness to address patients' spiritual needs. Spiritual care is perceived as a moral and professional responsibility among surgical nurses, yet its implementation is hindered by structural and educational gaps. Addressing these barriers through curriculum reform, in-service training, and institutional policy development is essential for the integration of spiritual care into surgical nursing practice in culturally sensitive ways.