Do Pastoral Care Providers Recognize Nurses as Spiritual Care Providers?

Abstract

This descriptive qualitative study was conducted to explicate pastoral care providers' perceptions of nurses as spiritual providers. Spirituality is especially meaningful in contemporary society as a whole with spiritual care an expectation of hospitalized patients. Spiritual care given by nurses is grounded in nursing's history, inherent in its philosophical framework, and supported by research and professional mandates. In hospitals today, the primary responsibility for the spiritual care of patients resides with pastoral care providers. Collaboration between pastoral care providers and nurses may improve patients' spiritual care outcomes. Before collaboration can occur, it is important to learn whether pastoral care providers recognize nurses as spiritual providers. Guided by qualitative research methods, participants were sought until data saturation occurred. This qualitative study consisted of 8 participants who were experienced, full-time pastoral care providers from general and religious-affiliated hospitals. Data were collected through audiotaped open-ended interviews, a demographic data form, and exploratory questions or probes. The analysis included concurrent data collection, constant examination of conceptual interactions, linkages, and the conditions under which they occurred. Themes emerged: quest, conscious response, and essence of caring. Pastoral care providers perceive nurses as spiritual providers. Few felt comfortable initiating collaboration. Study findings are not generalizable.

When Do Nurses Refer Patients to Professional Chaplains?

“…26 Although chaplains recognize nurses as spiritual care providers, 27 there are a number of reasons nurses may not want to directly address spiritual matters with patients. 28 They may feel uncomfortable, for example, because they are not in touch with their own spirituality.…”

Tanzanian Nurses Understanding and Practice of Spiritual Care

“…Accepting someone without prejudice and judgment and respecting their expressions of faith allow for optimum interpersonal connection which may promote the healing process [46, 47]. Respecting and addressing client's spirituality and religious practices are expected of nurses [13, 15, 48, 49]. However, the findings in this study indicate that some of the participants may have considered that telling a patient to trust God is addressing spiritual needs, while in fact it may be imposing their own beliefs.…”

Referrals to Health Care Chaplaincy by Head Nurses

“…4 Other research indicates that chaplains recognize the importance of nurses as spiritual care providers, indicating the respect of chaplains and nurses for each other's work is mutual. 5 Spiritual distress has long been recognized as a nursing diagnosis, 6 and spiritual care is an integral part of holistic care. 7,8 A review of the literature indicates that spiritual care includes a wide range of therapeutic interventions that are not limited to supporting patients' religious needs.…”