From: An investigation into the spiritual needs of neuro-oncology patients from a nurse perspective
A. How nurses became aware of patients’ spiritual needs | B. The nature of patients’ reported concerns | C. The nurses’ action | D. The outcome of nurses’ intervention |
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By encouraging patients to talk and listening to them | Being calm and happy as a feature of patient’s spirituality | Providing company/reassurance | Difficult to follow-up patients’ outcomes, for example, time factor, patient died, |
Looking for clues about patients’ spirituality/religion | Expression of loneliness, anger | Providing explanation/practical support | Factors other than spirituality may contribute |
Through recognition of patient’s emotions | Displays of emotions | Showing sensitivity | Nurses feel that the support they provide is of any assistance |
Assuming spirituality equates with and religion | Talking about personal beliefs | Creating positive caring environment | Being sensitive and respectful |
Admission of lack of awareness of spiritual needs | Overt expressions about God | Providing religious support/referral to chaplaincy | Feeling uncomfortable when dealing with patients’ spiritual needs because of lack of awareness |
Role uncertainty in spiritual care | Asking for spiritual leader to visit | Providing support patients’ relatives, for example discussing end of life decisions; supporting spouse who felt lost and unbalanced | Do not believe spiritual care is a priority and consider it to be a burden on practice |