Spirituality and chronic illness.
OBJECTIVE
To present a comprehensive overview of spirituality and identify strategies to support the spiritual dimensions of nursing care for people with chronic illness, focusing specifically on HIV-related illness and AIDS.
The AIDS crisis has brought new emphasis to the need to develop therapeutic interventions to support the coping resources of people living and dying with chronic illness. Conceptual, theoretical, and empirical knowledge related to spirituality was reviewed, integrated, and interpreted within the context of nursing care for this population, emphasizing the spiritual needs of people with HIV-related illness and AIDS.


CONCLUSIONS
Spirituality has evolved beyond religious considerations to encompass multidimensional and existential perspectives that are integral to maintaining well-being for the chronically ill. A deeper understanding of spirituality enhances the potential for nurses to identify spiritual needs and incorporate spiritual caring into practice.
O'Neill
D P
DP
Diabetes, Nephrology, Hemodialysis, and the Women's Unit, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Wilmington, NC, USA. DPO828@JUNO.COM
Kenny
E K
EK
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009732:Nursing Care; D012067:Religion