An emerging paradigm for the investigation of spirituality in nursing.

A paradigm is presented as a perspective for the investigation of spirituality in nursing. Elements in the paradigm include assumptions about the self-transcendent nature of human beings as derived from the developmental-contextual worldview, a description of spirituality in terms of various forms of connectedness integral to human development and health, and assumptions about the empirical and multidimensional nature of spirituality. Extant sources of conceptual, empirical, and clinical knowledge are utilized to support the ideas put forth in the emerging paradigm. It is concluded that the study of spirituality from the perspective of the paradigm would entail examination of the multiple expressions of connectedness intrapersonally, interpersonally, and transpersonally as related to human health and well-being.