Jordanian Nurses' Perspectives of Spirituality and Spiritual Care: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Spirituality is considered one of the main aspects of wholesome care for human beings. Spirituality is a multidimensional concept and has several definitions in the literature. Most of the studies concerning spirituality were conducted in Western cultures and the Middle East; however, there are a limited number of studies regarding spirituality in Jordan. The aim of this study was to explore Jordanian nurses' perspectives on spirituality and spiritual care in a palliative care unit in 1 cancer center in Jordan. A descriptive qualitative design with 20 semistructured interviews was used to access Jordanian nurses' perspectives on spirituality. This study was conducted in the major specialist center for the treatment of cancer in Jordan. A purposive sample of 20 registered nurses who had worked at least 6 months in the palliative care unit was recruited. Nurses' perceptions of spirituality were represented by 2 themes: spirituality means connectedness to "Allah," and spirituality evokes enjoyment in life. Two themes emerged in terms of nurses' perceptions of spiritual care: ensuring patients' comfort and relaxation, and sharing patients' religious rituals. These findings underscore the importance of the nurses' perspectives on spirituality in the context of Islamic and Arabic culture, and the need for training in spirituality. The concept of spirituality is recognized as a fundamental aspect of the nurse's role, making it essential to improve nurses' capabilities to integrate spirituality courses into the nursing curriculum.