Spiritual Care in Nursing Students: Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction.Attentiontothespiritualdimensionofpatientsandfamiliesisfundamentalaspartoftheactiveroleofnursingprofessionals in satisfying the spiritual needs of patients. Objective. To understand the attitudes towards spiritual care of nursing professionals in training. Methodology. Qualitative study with content analysis, with a population of 20 higher education Nursing students, with convenience sampling. Semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were held to explore spiritual self-knowledge and the conceptions of spiritual care, using the theoretical concepts proposed by McSherry as a reference. Data was initially analyzed inductively, with help from the Iramuteq software. Results. Spirituality is considered an intrapersonal dimension in which the need to explore one’s own spirituality in recognized, in order to approach the spiritual perception of the patient. Learning about crises for the development of a personal spirituality and finding oneself through nature were part of the observed categories. Discussion. The conception of spiritual care as an intrapersonal dimension helps students differentiate between spirituality and religion. This aspect has been observable during educational practice, since there were some very religious people and others who were not. Conclusions. Reference is made to the relationship between that which is spiritual and corporeal, and though there is a difference between spirituality and religion, both concepts must be assessed personally.