Fostering Spiritually Supportive Work Environments in Healthcare: Leadership Recommendations From a Narrative Review

Abstract

Background Spiritual support creates a positive clinical work environment for nurses. The literature increasingly shows that spiritually supportive settings improve nurse well‐being, reduce burnout, and elevate patient care quality. Aim This narrative review examines how different elements shape spiritually supportive work environments and support nurse well‐being, drawing on peer‐reviewed publications from 2020 to 2025 and data from major national professional organizations. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted using peer‐reviewed publications from 2020 and 2025, along with data from major national professional organizations. Findings were analyzed to examine how different elements shape spiritually supportive work environments and support nurse well‐being. Results The analysis reveals that spiritually supportive settings significantly improve nurse well‐being, decrease burnout, and elevate patient care quality. These environments also yield organizational benefits, such as higher nurse retention and enhanced patient satisfaction. The literature highlights that spirituality and religiosity foster resilience, reduce moral distress, and strengthen nurse–patient relationships, contributing to a compassionate workforce. Conclusion Recommendations are to embed spiritual support in healthcare settings to mitigate nurse burnout and workforce shortages, ensuring high‐quality, patient‐centered care. Additional recommendations are to advocate for systemic changes, including spiritual leadership and inclusive policies, to cultivate environments that nurture both nurses and patients, positioning spiritual support as a cornerstone of quality, sustainable healthcare delivery.

Efficacy of structured spiritual care education program on nurses’ spiritual well-being and clinical competence: a randomized controlled trial

“…Notably, the largest effects were observed in the existential dimension, indicating that the intervention may have had a particularly strong influence on nurses’ sense of meaning, purpose, and inner coherence in clinical practice. This is clinically meaningful, as existential well-being is more amenable to educational intervention than religious well-being, which is often rooted in stable personal beliefs [ 40 ], and has been linked to greater resilience and lower burnout among nurses [ 41 , 42 ].…”

Efficacy of structured spiritual care education program on nurses’ spiritual well-being and clinical competence: a randomized controlled trial

“…Notably, the largest effects were observed in the existential dimension, indicating that the intervention may have had a particularly strong influence on nurses’ sense of meaning, purpose, and inner coherence in clinical practice. This is clinically meaningful, as existential well-being is more amenable to educational intervention than religious well-being, which is often rooted in stable personal beliefs [ 40 ], and has been linked to greater resilience and lower burnout among nurses [ 41 , 42 ].…”

Efficacy of structured spiritual care education program on nurses’ spiritual well-being and clinical competence: a randomized controlled trial

“…Notably, the largest effects were observed in the existential dimension, indicating that the intervention may have had a particularly strong influence on nurses’ sense of meaning, purpose, and inner coherence in clinical practice. This is clinically meaningful, as existential well-being is more amenable to educational intervention than religious well-being, which is often rooted in stable personal beliefs [ 40 ], and has been linked to greater resilience and lower burnout among nurses [ 41 , 42 ].…”

Efficacy of structured spiritual care education program on nurses’ spiritual well-being and clinical competence: a randomized controlled trial

“…Notably, the largest effects were observed in the existential dimension, indicating that the intervention may have had a particularly strong influence on nurses’ sense of meaning, purpose, and inner coherence in clinical practice. This is clinically meaningful, as existential well-being is more amenable to educational intervention than religious well-being, which is often rooted in stable personal beliefs [ 40 ], and has been linked to greater resilience and lower burnout among nurses [ 41 , 42 ].…”