The Spiritual Well-Being and the Spiritual Nursing Care of Nurses for Cancer Patients

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the correlation between the levels of spiritual well-being and spiritual nursing care of nurses for cancer patients and to provide baseline data for spiritual nursing care. Methods: In the study, there were 209 nurses involved who cared for cancer patients, and they were from Christian General Hospital in a city, Jeonju. Data were collected from September 17 to 30 in 2008 using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using research methods, including descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: The mean score of spiritual well-being of nurses was 63.41±10.32 (range 20∼80) and that of spiritual nursing care was 26.96±7.05 (range 15∼60). There was a significant positive correlation between the spiritual well-being of nurses and their spiritual nursing care (r=.353, P=.000). Conclusion: The spiritual well-being and spiritual nursing care have a positive correlation. The level of spiritual well-being of nurses was relatively significant, whereas that of spiritual nursing care was relatively low. Therefore, it is recommended, for spiritual nursing care that nurses responsible for cancer patients should pursue more spiritual growth, attend church services regularly, and should further be educated in their care and responsibility. (Korean J Hosp Palliat Care 2009;12:72-79)Key Words: Cancer, Spiritual well-being, Nursing care서론 인간은 신체적, 정신ㆍ사회적, 영적으로 통합되어 상호영향을 주고받는 유기체적 존재이다. 영(spirit)은 육체에 생명을 불어넣어주는 숨결과 같은 것으로 인간의 내재하는 창조주의 모상(image)을 나타내며, 인간의 본질이 영적인 존재임을 제시하고 있다.