title: The provision of spiritual care by registered nurses on a maternal-infant unit.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa Capstone College of Nursing, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Marilyn C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Handley
authors.forename: Jeri W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dunkin
mesh_terms: 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