Prioritising spirituality

This article supports ‘Prioritise spirituality’, published in RCN Bulletin, 13 July 2011, front page

The RCN is committed to supporting members with issues surrounding spirituality.

In response to the findings of the RCN spirituality survey (2010) the RCN Spirituality Task and Finish Group has produced a pocket guide for members: RCN spirituality in nursing care: a pocket guide (PDF 419.3KB) [see how to access PDFs].

The full report of the survey results (PDF 1.0KB) has just been published and an online learning resource will soon be made available on the RCN website.

Report writer Wilf McSherry, Professor in Dignity of Care for Older People at Staffordshire University, discussed the survey findings and highlighted RCN work around this issue at the recent Mental Health Forum conference.

Quoting a nurse’s reflection from the survey on this crucial aspect of nursing care, he said:

“Everyone is spiritual whether we recognise it or not. Spirituality is that part of us which is no purely physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental etc. Our spirituality is who we are. Spiritual care and support can come from anywhere or anyone and is given by responding to the person who is receiving it in a unique and congruent way.”

Professor McSherry said that spirituality encompasses:

• hope and strength
• trust
• meaning and purpose
• forgiveness
• belief and faith in self, others – for some this includes a belief in deity/higher power
• people’s values
• love and relationships
• morality
• creativity and self-expression.

It is not:

• just religious beliefs and practices
• about imposing your own values and beliefs on another
• using your position to convert
• a specialist activity
• the sole responsibility of the chaplain.