Nurses’ performance in palliative care: spiritual care in the light of Theory of Human Caring

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze nurses’ role in assisting patients in palliative care, with emphasis on the spiritual dimension, in the light of Theory of Human Caring. Methods: this is an exploratory, qualitative study, carried out in a hospital in João Pessoa, Paraíba, between August and December 2019, with 10 nurses. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were used. For analysis, we opted for content analysis. Results: the spiritual dimension of care is contemplated by several religious and spiritual practices. These are respected and encouraged by nurses, although there is difficulty in providing care for the spiritual dimension. Final Considerations: nurses have attitudes consistent with Jean Watson’s Theory and apply the Caritas Process elements during assistance to patients’ spiritual dimension in palliative care.

Bedside nursing care for patients on hemodialysis

“…Spirituality strengthens and promotes comfort, collaborating in the confrontation with the disease and making it possible to improve the condition of life. Among the actions of comfort are included prayers, listening, dialogue, words of comfort (EVANGELISTA;. These adopted measures are very close to the precept of the egregor, which are concatenated actions to create positive energies, as strategies for coping with complex situations that transcend physical care.…”

Mystery and Miracle in Nursing

“…Three studies [22][23][24] used the 10th Caritas Principle as an orienting framework for the research. 2 The 10th Caritas Principle of the theory of human caring articulates the value of being open to mystery and miracles 2 that surround life itself.…”

“…In the first study,22 professionals in a children's hospital described the dominant perception that life is believed to consist of mysteries waiting to be discovered, a sense of infinity expressed in being open to miracles. In a study23 of nurses providing palliative care for patients, nurses reported knowing the importance of spiritual care but being unable to deal with the mysteries of life and spirituality in many cases. The final study occurred in a neonatal intensive care where Watson's theory of human caring was practiced by nurses 24.…”

Espiritualidad en adultos mayores y sus beneficios en salud: una revisión narrativa

“…En este proceso es donde la enfermería desde la evidencia del cuidado orienta y acompaña al adulto mayor en su proceso de vida en conjunto con el abordaje de la espiritualidad, a partir de esto se ha trabajado en diversos estudios y desde las teorías de enfermería como propuesta de una visión más allá de la concepción del mundo de orden físico, abriéndose a lo subjetivo y hacia una metafísica espiritual más explícita 11 , lo cual constituye el cuidado de la dimensión espiritual como componente esencial del cuidado de enfermería, en esa perspectiva en la teoría de enfermería de cuidado humano surge una consideración hacia la persona completa y su lugar en el mundo 12 . Y en este sentido el cuidado de la dimensión espiritual constituye un área de oportunidad para enfermería donde además de acompañar el proceso de la persona de cuidado se descubren las necesidades espirituales propias y a partir de la experiencia surge el cuidado de lo invisible a los ojos.…”