Comment: I found the description of spiritual care describe in this article very useful and it can assist in demystifying what spiritual care and how it can be practiced – the article is written from a nursing perspective.
To get to the heart of what spiritual care is, this 2010 definition from NHS Education for Scotland is helpful: ‘Spiritual care is that care which recognises and responds to the needs of the human spirit when faced with trauma, ill health or sadness, and can include the need for meaning, for self-worth, to express oneself, for faith support, perhaps for rites or prayer or sacrament, or simply for a sensitive listener. Spiritual care begins with encouraging human contact in a compassionate relationship, and moves in whatever direction need requires.’
All nurses offer spiritual care when they sit quietly with a patient who is dying alone, or when they facilitate communication between a patient and their family. This has been seen clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To get to the heart of what spiritual care is, this 2010 definition from NHS Education for Scotland is helpful: ‘Spiritual care is that care which recognises and responds to the needs of the human spirit when faced with trauma, ill health or sadness, and can include the need for meaning, for self-worth, to express oneself, for faith support, perhaps for rites or prayer or sacrament, or simply for a sensitive listener. Spiritual care begins with encouraging human contact in a compassionate relationship, and moves in whatever direction need requires.’
