title: Spirituality in end-of-life care:  attending the person on their journey.
abstract: Spirituality is a fundamental element to the human experience of health and healing, illness and dying. Spiritual care is an essential component of palliative and end-of-life care provision and is the responsibility of all staff and carers involved in the care of patients and families. As end-of-life care is a significant element of community nursing, this article explores the relevancy of spirituality to end-of-life practice, the challenge of defining spirituality and the attributes and skills required for the practice of spiritual care. The aim of is to encourage self reflection and open dialogue about the subject, thus enhancing community nurses' understanding of spiritual care practice. By reflecting and generating talk about the practice of spiritual care, it may become more normalized, recognized, and practically meaningful, thereby retaining its significance in holistic nursing.
authors: Our lady's Hospice & Care Services, School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland. dhayden@olh.ie
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Hayden
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom