Linda Ross1, René van Leeuwen2, Donia Baldacchino3, Tove Giske4, Wilfred McSherry5, Aru Narayanasamy6, Carmel Downes7, Paul Jarvis8, Annemiek Schep-Akkerman9. 1. School of Care Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales CF37 1DL, UK. Electronic address: linda.ross@southwales.ac.uk. 2. Reformed University for Applied Sciences, Grasdorpstraat 2, 8012EN Zwolle, The Netherlands. Electronic address: rleeuwen@gh.nl. 3. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Malta. Electronic address: donia.baldacchino@um.edu.mt. 4. Haraldsplass Deaconess University College, Ulriksdal 10, 5009 Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Tove.giske@haraldsplass.no. 5. Centre for Practice and Service Improvement, Faculty of Health, Staffordshire University/The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Stafford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: w.mcsherry@staffs.ac.uk. 6. University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine & Health Science, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Physiotherapy, Room 75, D Floor, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK. Electronic address: Aru.Narayanasamy@nottingham.ac.uk. 7. National Centre for the Protection of Older People, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: carmel.downes@ucd.ie. 8. School of Care Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales CF37 1DL, UK. Electronic address: paul.jarvis@southwales.ac.uk. 9. Reformed University of Applied Sciences, Grasdorpstraat 2, 8012 EN Zwolle, The Netherlands. Electronic address: aschep-akkerman@gh.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spiritual care is expected of nurses, but it is not clear how undergraduates can achieve competency in spiritual care at point of registration as required by nursing/midwifery regulatory bodies. AIMS: To describe undergraduate nurses'/midwives' perceptions of spirituality/spiritual care, their perceived competence in delivering spiritual care, and to test out the proposed method and suitability of measures for a larger multinational follow-on study. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, multinational, descriptive survey design. METHODS: Author administered questionnaires were completed by 86% of the intended convenience sample of 618 undergraduate nurses/midwives from 6 universities in 4 European countries in 2010. RESULTS: Students held a broad view of spirituality/spiritual care and considered themselves to be marginally more competent than not in spiritual care. They were predominantly Christian and reported high levels of spiritual wellbeing and spiritual attitude and involvement. The proposed method and measures were appropriate and are being used in a follow-on study. CONCLUSIONS: The following are worthy of further investigation: whether the pilot study findings hold in student samples from more diverse cultural backgrounds; whether students' perceptions of spirituality can be broadened to include the full range of spiritual needs patients may encounter and whether their competence can be enhanced by education to better equip them to deliver spiritual care; identification of factors contributing to acquisition of spiritual caring skills and spiritual care competency.
BACKGROUND: Spiritual care is expected of nurses, but it is not clear how undergraduates can achieve competency in spiritual care at point of registration as required by nursing/midwifery regulatory bodies. AIMS: To describe undergraduate nurses'/midwives' perceptions of spirituality/spiritual care, their perceived competence in delivering spiritual care, and to test out the proposed method and suitability of measures for a larger multinational follow-on study. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, multinational, descriptive survey design. METHODS: Author administered questionnaires were completed by 86% of the intended convenience sample of 618 undergraduate nurses/midwives from 6 universities in 4 European countries in 2010. RESULTS: Students held a broad view of spirituality/spiritual care and considered themselves to be marginally more competent than not in spiritual care. They were predominantly Christian and reported high levels of spiritual wellbeing and spiritual attitude and involvement. The proposed method and measures were appropriate and are being used in a follow-on study. CONCLUSIONS: The following are worthy of further investigation: whether the pilot study findings hold in student samples from more diverse cultural backgrounds; whether students' perceptions of spirituality can be broadened to include the full range of spiritual needs patients may encounter and whether their competence can be enhanced by education to better equip them to deliver spiritual care; identification of factors contributing to acquisition of spiritual caring skills and spiritual care competency.