• To learn about the varying perceptions of the term spirituality
• To recognise the potential benefits of spiritual care for patients with mental health conditions
• To understand the actions you can take in your practice to address patients’ spiritual care needs
At the centre of nursing is a comprehensive model of holistic care provision that recognises each individual patient as an integrated whole with several interconnecting qualities, one of which is spirituality. Recognising patients’ perceptions of their health and enabling them to find meaning in managing their illnesses are important aspects of all fields of nursing. There is a wide range of literature on spirituality in nursing practice, particularly in relation to end of life care. However, less attention has been given to the spiritual care of patients with mental health conditions. Although meeting these patients’ spiritual needs is a core aspect of mental health nursing, many nurses do not feel adequately prepared to address such needs and provide optimal spiritual care.
This article examines the concept of spirituality in healthcare, emphasising its importance and outlining how it can be integrated into mental health nurses’ practice.
Mental Health Practice. 24, 6, 28-33. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2021.e1549
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Ramluggun P, Idowu C, Sandy P et al (2021) Supporting mental health nurses to meet patients’ spiritual needs. Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2021.e1549
Published online: 11 May 2021
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