Measuring Effectiveness of a Spiritual Care Pedagogy in Nursing Education

Nurses have long recognized the importance of spiritual care in nursing practice as promoting the integration of meaning and purpose in life. More recently, both the American Nurses Association incorporates spiritual care in the Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has integrated spiritual care in the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education. However, research suggests that nurses do not know how to provide spiritual care. This study developed and tested a spiritual care pedagogy. In phase I, researchers designed a spiritual care educational and reflective program based on the Burkhart/Hogan theory of spiritual care in nursing practice, incorporating face-to-face and on-line components. In phase 2, the effectiveness of this program was measured in a pre-post test, randomized controlled trial with senior nursing students during their capstone clinical immersion course (n=59). Findings revealed a statistically significant increase in students' perceived ability in providing spiritual care, particularly in complex family clinical situations. Findings also indicated a significant increase in the student's use of reflective practices, which students found to help support them during stressful times. This study translates nursing theory and research into a successful pedagogy.