Nursing perceptions of the spiritual dimension of patient care: The Neuman Systems Model in curricular formations

Grace Anne Peterson, Marquette University

Abstract

Nursing education has been remiss in the provision of curricular instruction on spiritual care. This study investigated the dimension of spiritual care within the curricula of collegiate schools of nursing and examined the historical roots of spiritual care in nursing. Research questions. (1) Does the Neuman Systems Model make a difference in the spiritual care of patients as evidenced in the self evaluation of nursing students? (2) Are there differences between faculty and nursing students perceptions of spiritual care? (3) Are there differences in the amount of time spent teaching about spiritual care between those using the Neuman Systems Model as a curricular basis and those not using the Neuman Systems Model? (4) Are there differences in the perception of spiritual care between religious collegiate schools of nursing and public schools of nursing? The significance of this study. The descriptive comparative study used the perceptions of the Chadwick Spiritual Needs Questionnaire and the Piles (1986) Spiritual Care Questionnaire. Human Subjects approval was granted by Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The instruments were administered to a random sample of collegiate schools of nursing in four regions of the United States and collegiate schools of nursing that have the Neuman Systems Model as their curricular basis. A packet was sent to the dean or director of the collegiate schools asking permission for five faculty members and ten senior student nurses to participate in the study. Data was analyzed using means, frequencies, t tests, and analysis of variance at a.05 level of significance. The study revealed that nursing students and faculty want further education regarding the meeting of patient's spiritual needs. The difference of utilizing a holistic model like the Neuman Systems Model, or the religious affiliation of the college, was found to be significant in the greater amount of time spent in the curricula on spiritual care. Recommendations for nursing education for a curriculum that is holistic and emphasizes the spiritual dimension are substantiated.

This paper has been withdrawn.