Supporting mental health nurses to meet patients’ spiritual 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.