Nurses and Patients' Perspectives on Spiritual Health Assessment.

Nurses conduct physical and psychosocial assessments during admissions to healthcare facilities. Patients rely upon nurses to provide support and education during their journey, from periods of health decline to states of optimal wellness. Therefore, nurses are an ideal population to assess spiritual health. The value and necessity of spiritual assessment were explored on an inpatient unit providing medical and palliative care to patients. Two spiritual assessment tools, comprised each of five items, were evaluated by nursing staff and patients. Spiritual Assessment Tool 1 used language that was unaffiliated with religion, nor a belief in God, and Spiritual Assessment Tool 2 used language affiliated with faith and belief in God.