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Spiritual care for the critically ill
1Wright State University, Dayton, OH.
Summary
Nurses can enhance spiritual well-being in intensive care patients by building trust, listening to concerns, and facilitating connections with family and faith. Technical competence and spiritual assessments are key nursing interventions.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Spiritual Care
- Critical Care
Background:
- Spiritual well-being is crucial for a healthy lifestyle and holistic integration of inner resources.
- Professional nursing education often lacks adequate socialization in providing spiritual care.
- Limited research addresses the spiritual dimension of nursing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors contributing to effective spiritual care for patients in intensive care units.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive replication study using a convenience sample of 63 critical care patients.
- Interviews conducted 1-2 days post-discharge using open-ended questions on hope and meaning.
- Content analysis used to determine predominant patterns.
Main Results:
- Three themes emerged: care providers, family/friends, and religion/faith.
- Identified nursing interventions include establishing trust, in-depth spiritual assessment, and conveying technical competence.
- Facilitating communication among family, clergy, and providers is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Key nursing interventions involve active listening to patient concerns.
- Maintaining and conveying technical competence is vital for spiritual care.
- Nurses play a significant role in supporting patients' spiritual well-being.