Relevance to clinical practice
There has been enormous growth over the past decade in particular, in attention toward and research on spiritual caring in nursing. This research further raises the profile of
spiritual caring by adding some clarity for palliative care and acute care RNs and their working environment. The main recommendation is for an increase in RNs’ spiritual
awareness and spiritual caring and to overcome the spiritual caring barriers identified. This can be done initially through spiritual self awareness and growth (Carpenter et al. 2008), and education which needs to be reinforced by
ongoing programs (Taylor et al. 2008, Baldacchino 2011). It is recommended that in acute environments nurses are provided with spiritual caring education specific to that
environment, and also support which may be achieved through, for example, experienced nurse spiritual caring mentors. In addition, there is a need to determine if nurses’
spirituality is a prerequisite for the provision of effective spiritual caring.