Psychological, social, and spiritual support

Abstract

Psychological, social, and spiritual support for the person with cancer involves a range of activities by the nurse and other colleagues. Nurses can develop close interpersonal relationships with patients by showing warmth and compassion through the act of caring and by developing empathy. Although rewarding, the emotional aspects of nursing (emotional labour) can also be demanding, and nurses need to learn how to manage them in a way that is therapeutic for the patient and does not lead to burnout or compassion fatigue for the nurse. This involves developing support systems, controlling workload, managing role and personal boundaries, and supervision and education. Nurses, depending on their qualifications and training, may function at different levels of psychological support, including using counselling skills. Specific psychological therapies used in cancer care include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), problem-solving, mindfulness, and psycho-educational interventions. Social support can take the form of emotional, informational, or instrumental (practical) support. This can be provided by many different professionals, in addition to family members. There is a specific role for social workers within cancer care, focusing on families, particularly those at risk, and individuals who lack support or need advice with finances. Spirituality concerns personal faith and also a sense of inner strength, of hope, or of purpose in life. It is an important part of all cancer care and a specialist area of practice by chaplains and other faith representatives. Spiritual assessment and support are part of an ongoing relationship, in response to the patient’s perception of their needs.