Becoming a Channel of God: How Faith Community Nurses Develop Their Spiritual Practice

Abstract

Purpose: This study explored the underlying process faith community nurses (FCNs) experience in developing their spiritual nursing practice.

Design: A qualitative, exploratory design was used.

Method: Data from interviews with six FCNs were generated and analyzed using Glaserian grounded theory.

Findings: The basic social psychological process, cultivating the soul to become a channel of God, explains the steps these nurses take to achieve stages of presence. Going through these stages of presence, FCNs develop a foundation of God-related beliefs and values, presence with self, presence with God, presence with others, presence with God and others, and become a channel of God.

Conclusions: Developing spiritual care competence in assessing and meeting clients' spiritual needs is necessary to enhance person-centered practice, a vital aspect of holistic care. The model of presence can inform the development of spiritual care competencies and link to other nursing theories including Watson's theory of caring and Benner's novice to expert theory. Workplace support is needed for nurses to refine spiritual nursing care practices and integrate spiritual care into practice. Further research regarding the stages of presence could foster deeper understanding of how foundations of God-related values develop.

Keywords: Benner; Watson; client-centered care; common themes; faith community nursing; grounded theory; parish nursing; person-centered practice; presence; spiritual care.