A phenomenological exploration of the nature of spirituality and spiritual care

Abstract

A diagnosis of advanced cancer may provoke a crisis of meaning and belief systems and self-confidence may be shaken; some authors define this as a spiritual crisis. Generally there is a dearth of published studies in the UK relating to the meaning of spirituality and the provision of spiritual care. Several factors may influence the spiritual care practices of nurses such as the lack of an agreed definition of spirituality and the nurses' own spiritual and cultural beliefs. Using a phenomenological heuristic approach, semi-structured interviews offering nurses the opportunity to tell their stories and to share their experiences of their own personal spiritual beliefs, and of providing spiritual care for patients with advanced cancer, were used with a convenience sample of 15 hospice nurses. My use of their stories not only legitimizes their experiences but also places the complex understanding of spirituality and spiritual care centre stage. The study revealed that the spiritual dimension of care infiltrates all aspects of nursing care. The nurses I interviewed had integrated their spirituality within their nursing role and were working in a spiritual context. The nurses used a holistic approach to care in which the spiritual dimension permeated all the other dimensions of care (physical, social, religious and psychological). To achieve holistic care the nurses sought the assistance of other professionals, who included religious ministers, social workers and counsellors.