The Spiritual Care Competence of Intensive Care Unit Nurses.

BACKGROUND

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses experience high psychological stress, which can compromise patient care. Spirituality is recognized as a coping mechanism and a critical component of holistic care. Jean Watson's Transpersonal Human Caring Theory posits that nurses' spiritual perception influences their provision of spiritual care, which is the highest quality of care a patient can receive.

PURPOSE: To describe ICU nurses' spiritual care competence (SCC), its associations, and factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study of ICU registered nurses was conducted. Measurement instruments used were the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS) and the Enhancing Provision of Spiritual Care through Innovative Education and Compassionate Care (EPICC) Self-Assessment Tool. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and linear regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

Mean spiritual care competency score = 114.03 (SD = 14.42). Strong positive associations were found between spiritual care competence and perception of spirituality, spiritual care practice, and personalized care. A weak negative association was also found between competency and religiosity. Regression analysis identified perceptions of spirituality, spiritual care practice, personalized care, and religiosity as predictors of spiritual care competency (R2 = 60.60%, Adjusted R2 = 58.8%).

CONCLUSION

ICU nurses' spiritual care competence was associated with perceptions of spirituality, spiritual care practice, personalized care, and religiosity. Emphasizing personalized care, clarifying the distinction between spirituality and religiosity, and providing targeted spirituality education may enhance SCC and SCP, thereby supporting nurse well-being and patient-centered outcomes.