title: Spirituality and uncertainty at the end of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the theoretical congruency between uncertainty and spirituality at the end of life (EOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant empirical and theoretical articles using the key words spirituality, uncertainty, terminal illness, and similar derivatives were drawn from the databases of CINAHL®, MEDLINE®, PsycINFO, and SocINDEX.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spirituality and uncertainty were compared for theoretical congruency based on five general categories: prevalence, temporality, interpretation, quality, and directionality. The categories were drawn from the uncertainty literature and looked at the ability of spirituality and uncertainty to contribute to or detract from health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article presents an innovative way of viewing how spirituality is experienced at the EOL. The likelihood that uncertainty and spirituality can coexist as a simultaneous and even blended construct that influences the EOL is supported and warrants additional exploration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professionals must recognize the prevalence of spiritual uncertainty in the lives of their patients and understand the need to frequently assess for spiritual uncertainty. Specific recommendations are provided to guide professionals in addressing spiritual uncertainty with patients.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Kent State University, Ohio.
authors.forename: Pam Shockey
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: Innovation and Community Partnerships, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
authors.forename: Devon M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005544:Forecasting; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*; D035501:Uncertainty
keywords: end-of-life; religiousness; spirituality