Spirituality in nursing care has been discussed for many years in the nursing press. There has been no literature review that explores only UK literature, and this article updates a literature review carried out in 2006 (Ross, 2006). Aim: The review was designed to investigate the current nursing evidence underpinning the concept of spirituality and its application. Method: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken and a thematic analysis performed following a search for literature using defined dates, databases and search terms. Results: Four major themes emerged from the literature: concept clarification; spiritual care-giving; religion and spirituality; and nurse education. Conclusion: Definitions of spiritual care vary, and the concept of spirituality in nursing is still under development. However, until a common language of spirituality is developed, models of spiritual care developed through research involving mainly nursing staff will be difficult for nurses to apply.

Spirituality in nursing: a systematic review of the literature from 2006–10

Purpose: To replicate research about confidence level in receiving health teaching from either an overweight or a weight-appropriate RN.

Methods: A quasi-experimental post-test only design was used. Participants were randomly assigned to be shown images of a nurse, either overweight or weight-appropriate, then asked to rate their confidence in health teaching received from that nurse. Descriptive statistics, t test for independent samples, and covariate analyses were performed.

Results: A significant difference in confidence p=0.000 was noted between participants who viewed the image of a weight-appropriate nurse and participants who viewed the image of an overweight nurse.

Conclusions: Weight-appropriate nurses may inspire more confidence in their teaching. Further study is indicated to explore the implications of these findings for practice.

Clinical Relevance: Nurses need to be conscious of clients' perceptions of weight when planning teaching interventions.

Nurses' body size and public confidence in ability to provide health education.

The objective of this systematic review of diverse evidence was to examine the relationship between health system governance and workforce outcomes. Particular attention was paid to how governance mechanisms facilitate change in the workforce to ensure the effective use of all health providers. In accordance with standard systematic review procedures, the research team independently screened over 4300 abstracts found in database searches, website searches, and bibliographies. Searches were limited to 2001–2012, included only publications from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. Peer- reviewed papers and grey literature were considered. Two reviewers independently rated articles on quality and relevance and classified them into themes identified by the team. One hundred and thirteen articles that discussed both workforce and governance were retained and extracted into narrative summary tables for synthesis. Six types of governance mechanisms emerged from our analysis. Shared governance, Magnet accreditation, and professional development initiatives were all associated with improved outcomes for the health workforce (e.g., decreased turnover, increased job satisfaction, increased empowerment, etc.). Implementation of quality-focused initiatives was associated with apprehension among providers, but opportunities for provider training on these initiatives increased quality and improved work attitudes. Research on reorganization of healthcare delivery suggests that changing to team-based care is accompanied by stress and concerns about role clarity, that outcomes vary for providers in private versus public organizations, and that co-operative clinics are beneficial for physicians. Funding schemes required a supplementary search to achieve adequate depth and coverage. Those findings are reported elsewhere. The results of the review show that while there are governance mechanisms that consider workforce impacts, it is not to the extent one might expect given the importance of the workforce for improving patient outcomes. Furthermore, to successfully implement governance mechanisms in this domain, there are key strategies recommended to support change and achieve desired outcomes. The most important of these are: to build trust by clearly articulating the organization’s goal; considering the workforce through planning, implementation, and evaluation phases; and providing strong leadership.

/pdf/exploring-the-relationship-between-governance-mechanisms-in-417v2puypa.pdf

Exploring the relationship between governance mechanisms in healthcare and health workforce outcomes: a systematic review

Alzheimer's disease (AD) robs persons living with the disease of their independence and self-esteem, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Understanding how people with early-stage AD cope is a critical step in enhancing their adaptive abilities and ultimately improving their quality of life. This qualitative study describes how individuals with early-stage AD use spirituality to cope with the losses of self-esteem, independence, and social interaction that they face. The purposive sample for this focused ethnographic study consisted of 15 participants living at home in central Arkansas. Holding onto faith, seeking reassurance and hope, and staying connected were the global themes. Personal faith, prayer, connection to church, and family support enhanced the ability of people with early-stage AD to keep a positive attitude as they face living with AD.

/pdf/using-spirituality-to-cope-with-early-stage-alzheimer-s-50rs965tme.pdf

Using spirituality to cope with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Fitness to practice and feedback to students : a literature review

Prayer is widely acknowledged in both ancient and modern times as an intervention for alleviating illnesses and promoting good health. There is increasing attention on prayer in health care, in both popular and serious discourse. Advocates exalt the healing power of prayer in health care, while critics are sceptical about this claim and its healing potential is put down to coincidences or its placebo effect. Consequently, a variety of empirical studies have attempted to test its effect scientifically with no conclusive results. There is evidence to suggest that some patients and healthcare practitioners believe in the healing power of prayer. Nurses may be called upon to pray with or for patients as part of holistic care. This article sets out to explore the role of prayer in healing and its implications for nursing. To achieve this aim, this article provides a review of discourses and evidence on the power of prayer in healing. Its implications for nursing are highlighted with some suggestions on how to respond to patients' spiritual needs. It is concluded that, although the evidence on the healing power of spirituality is inconclusive, there are indications that it has potential for the health and wellbeing of both patients and nurses.

The healing power of prayer and its implications for nursing

Staff development in the NHS is integral to clinical governance and therefore important to health service providers. It is concerned with all the activities that advance knowledge, skills and attitudes of staff, embracing induction, mentorship, continuing professional development, learning beyond registration, performance appraisals, promotion, personal and professional development, and related activities. The recent contraction in nursing posts and services and competition for jobs means that only well-qualified staff with an impressive portfolio of staff development are likely to climb the career ladder. Nursing staff development and training needs in the NHS are huge and multifaceted. Healthcare providers need to invest in clear staff development strategies if they are to maintain their status as effective care delivery organizations in an increasingly competitive market-driven economy. This article examines the many features of staff development and highlights the benefits for both staff and organizations.

Advancing staff development and progression in nursing.

Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient Indian form of healing. It is gaining popularity as part of the growing interest in New Age spirituality and in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In this article the principles and practices of Ayurvedic medicine are outlined. In doing so, the safety of ayurvedic medicine is explored in the context of evidence-based practice and the implications of Ayurvedic medicine for nursing are discussed. It is concluded that an awareness of Ayurvedic medicine may help nurses to be cognisant of its benefits and potential complications if it is used with conventional medicine. Although the therapeutic value of ayurvedic treatment is yet to be fully established through randomized control trials, its potential in terms of health promotion, nutrition and spirituality are acknowledged in the emerging literature.

Ayurvedic medicine: an introduction for nurses

The depressing comment from a user in a recent BJN article, ‘What makes a good nurse?’ (Rush and Cook, 2006 p384) reflects that nurses may not measure up as credible health promoters:

Mani Narayanasamy

Papers

The healing power of prayer and its implications for nursing

Advancing staff development and progression in nursing.

Ayurvedic medicine: an introduction for nurses

Communicating health promotion in nursing.