What does a nurse do to
provide spiritual care?
Students identified interventions primarily
involved with building relationships with
patients and described a number of
characteristics of the nurse as foundational to
spiritual care.
Building relationship
Students indicated that relationship was the
key to providing spiritual care. Interventions
such as presence, caring and engaged listening
promoted the building of this relationship.
Part of building relationship was also
ensuring that patients were able to connect
with those of similar beliefs and values,
whether that be a spiritual leader or simply
a family member.
Students in first and fourth year described
the process differently. First year students
often focused on what they had to offer as
nurses with strong spiritual beliefs.
A nurse shows a patient the love of God
through her actions. Her caring and