The Experience of Hospice Nurses on Spiritual Care: The Process of Untying a Knot of Mind

Kang, Sung Ye; Koh, Moon Hee; Choi, Jeong Sook

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of hospice nurses on spiritual care. METHODS: Data was collected from 9 hospice nurses by using in-depth interview. The main questions include what they understand as spiritual care, when they feel the needs of spiritual care, how they perform spiritual care, and what is the outcome of spiritual care. The data was analyzed by grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss and Corbin. RESULTS: The core category of experience of hospice nurses on spiritual care was identified as "Untie a knot of mind". In the process of spiritual care in hospice nurses was consisted of soothing, dwelling with, releasing, giving meaning, plunging, and going beyond a life. CONCLUSION: The result of this study was expected to give useful information to nurses and nursing managers about the real situation of performance of spiritual care. The findings of this study contributes to developing programs and supportive policies for encouraging spiritual care.