Spiritual care today is considered an essential intervention in improving the quality of life of not only patients but also their families. According to the World Health Organization, it is essential to focus on a wide array of tenets such as the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual well-being of patients rather than emphasizing on curing the disease alone. Nurses work with various patients undergoing many physical, emotional, and psychological problems. The conventional care has always focused on the physical demands of the patient with little consideration being put on their emotional and spiritual needs. Many scholars have cited spirituality as "that part of a person that gives meaning and purpose to the person's life." Most fundamentally, it incorporates the belief in a supernatural power that inspires resolute and hopes to combat physical and emotional deficiencies. Spiritually is at the core of the patient care as it promotes the psychological and emotional welfare of the patient and the nurse (Ramezani et al. 2014).
Spirituality in healthcare is an essential aspect that should be given priority. It is critical to appreciate that each patient exhibits different problems but the overriding claim is that healthcare needs should be tailored to exploit the fullness of humanity. Through religious and spiritual teachings, patients are increasingly aware of what healthcare should achieve in the human body. Compassion and empathy are at the center of spiritual care which assists in promoting wellness by inspiring a sense of happiness among the patients. A major concept that comes into picture while discussing spirituality is the concept of holistic care. It incorporates four critical tenets that include the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions (Ramezani et al. 2014). Each of these factors cannot exist on its own. When one of them is not present, it means that care is not provided to the optimum best. Spiritual well-being plays a significant role in not only the development of hope but also understanding the meaning of life. Patients become increasingly ready to face the consequences of illness including death.
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According to research, many American patients have shown reliance on prayer to achieve good health. Nurses play an essential role in enhancing integrative medicine which involves putting spirituality at the center of care processes. Some of the interventions that nurses have engaged in include pastoral counseling, meditation, prayer in healing, and the promotion of compassion and forgiveness amongst other. Health researchers have significantly cited prayer as an essential factor in the healing process. It not only provides information regarding oneself but also about their destiny. Out of these interventions, the most used is especially in the palliative care and nursing home departments is the pastoral care. Pastoral care consists of simple words aimed at motivating an individual or in some instances it can exist in the form of rites. Loss of good health significantly paves the way for the entrance of grieving episodes on the part of the patient. In some instances, the pastoral care can also involve family members and social groups whose main aim is to instill a sense of faith and hope on the patient. Through the pastoral care, caregivers such as nurses receive the much-needed impetus to listen to their patients.
It should also be noted that nurses are also in a pole position to benefit from the spiritual intervention. Religious teachings and doctrines inspire nurses to act ethically, professionally, and nobly. Spirituality also upholds human dignity and respect to humanity, which ensures that patients are treated with the much-needed as people with the potential to live. The job of nursing comes with a plethora of challenges from long working hours, lack of appreciation, and low remuneration amongst others. Therefore, spirituality becomes fundamentally crucial given that it provides them with morale and the heart to overcome their personal hurdles. Furthermore, spirituality plays a vital role in the promotion of compassionate care. Amidst the illness, nurses usually find it difficult to assist the patients to find meaning in their lives. However, through religion and devotion, patients are in a position to answer critically tricky questions concerning their conditions (Zehtab & Adib-Hajbaghery, 2014). Spirituality takes the form of compassionate care where the nurses have a session with the patients and explain to them the essence of their life. It further promotes healing where cure tends to be unattainable. In this case, healing involves accepting one's condition and the peace that comes thereafter.
Most fundamentally, spiritual guidance in nursing improves the coping among the patients. Through prayer, devotion, and meditation among others, one tends to develop a belief that enables them to cope with pain and stress that comes with illnesses. Research has shown that individuals with a strong spiritual background have better chances of developing quality life. Terminal ill patients such as those with cancer and AIDS require spirituality to ensure that they cope with the prospects of death. Other than coping, spirituality increases the chances of recovery. Patients that show commitment have a higher probability of recovering from illnesses and other medical operations such as surgery (Melhem et al. 2014). It reduces stress and the tendency to worry thus building positive psychology which promotes overall health. Therefore nurses must include spirituality in their treatment programs for maximum patient resilience and recovery.
In conclusion, spiritual care is an area that has received little attention in nursing. However, it has proven beyond doubt to benefit not only the patient but also the nurses. Most fundamentally, it builds a strong nurse-patient relationship as spirituality aligns their individual goals.
References
Melhem, G. A. B., Zeilani, R. S., Zaqqout, O. A., Aljwad, A. I., Shawagfeh, M. Q., & Al-Rahim, M. A. (2016). Nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual caregiving: A comparison study among all healthcare sectors in Jordan. Indian journal of palliative care , 22(1), 42.
Ramezani, M., Ahmadi, F., Mohammadi, E., & Kazemnejad, A. (2014). Spiritual care in nursing: a concept analysis. International nursing review , 61(2), 211-219.
Zehtab, S., & Adib-Hajbaghery, M. (2014). The Importance of spiritual care in nursing. Nurse Midwifery Study, 3(3), e22261.
