Nursing students' perception of how prepared they are to assess patients' spiritual needs
by Graham, Patricia E. Mahon, Ed.D., COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY, 2008, 114 pages; 3310889

Abstract:

According to the literature, currently there is no assessment for spiritual development of nurses, physicians, ministers or patients. They could be at any stage in their faith development. Spiritual development has seldom been a criterion for nursing entry, graduation, or practice. Spiritual competence is the basis for fostering hope, purpose and meaning. Therefore, the nursing profession needs to develop nurses who are capable of responding to patients' spiritual needs in a competent and sensitive way. Providing education to nursing students may increase students' awareness of the importance of patients' spiritual needs. Gaining comfort with one's own spirituality is the initial step in developing awareness and sensitivity to patients' spiritual needs.

A mixed method study examined nursing students' perception of how prepared they are in assessing their patients' spiritual needs after participating in a four hour spirituality seminar. Quantitative data were collected on senior nursing students (N=24) completing the Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS) surveys before and after participating in a four hour spirituality seminar.

The qualitative study took a phenomenological approach examining senior nursing students' (N=12) open-ended questionnaires in an interview format.

Data analysis identified a relationship between the participants' meaningful segments and Fowler's fourth stage of faith development which occurs during ages 21-30. Fowler's fourth stage, Individuative-Reflective Faith, identified a period in which the young adult begins to claim faith identity no longer defined by the composite of one's roles or meaning to others (Fowler, 1981).

Results of this study identified five themes: (1) nursing students' personal spiritual beliefs, (2) spiritual interventions, (3)assessing patients' spiritual needs, (4) personal beliefs impacting nursing care, and (5) spirituality in nursing education. The findings of this study suggest that more emphasis should be placed on spiritual domain in nursing education programs.

 
AdviserPeggy Hawkins
SchoolCOLLEGE OF SAINT MARY
SourceDAI/B 69-06, p. , Sep 2008
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsNursing
Publication Number3310889
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