The provision of spiritual care by registered nurses on a maternal-infant unit.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores the spirituality, spiritual well-being (SWB), and spiritual care provision of registered nurses on a maternal-infant unit.


METHODS
Data collection instruments included a demographic and spiritual care form, Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS), and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) to address the study's research questions.


RESULTS
Significant positive correlations were found between SPS and SWBS as well as religious well-being (RWB) and existential well-being (EWB; subscales of SWBS). Religious attendance was significantly correlated with SPS, SWBS, and RWB but not EWB. Frequency of spiritual assessment themes was first encounter and when needed, whereas reaching up and reaching out described their provision of spiritual care.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample was highly spiritual, spiritually well, and provided varied spiritual care.


CONCLUSIONS
More spiritual care research is needed. Content on providing spiritual care must be enhanced within nursing curricula as well as with nurses in practice.
Dunn
Linda L
LL
University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa Capstone College of Nursing, AL, USA.
Handley
Marilyn C
MC
Dunkin
Jeri W
JW
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires