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A resurgence of interest in
spirituality is evident in postmodern
culture.1 This interest has not been
psychological health3 and that the
scientific study of spirituality and
health is an important focus of nurs-
What Is Spirituality?
Scholars are seeking to clarify
spirituality as a concept for use in the
limited to popular culture alone; ing research.4,5 Concerns about the health sciences.7 Authors3,5,7-9 gener-
scientific interest in the effects of quality of the methods used in ally agree that the concept of spiritu-
spirituality and religion on health research on spirituality and religion ality is broader than the concept of
has been gaining momentum since are ongoing.3 Despite the resurgence religion. Religious beliefs and prac-
the 1980s. A search of the term “spir- of spirituality as a legitimate focus tices can be expressions of spirituality,
itual care” in the CINAHL database for nursing research, little data-based but spirituality exists apart from
yielded only 293 articles for the information specific to spirituality religion.5,8 The consensus is that spir-
period 1982 to 1994, and 1106 arti- and critical care nursing practice is ituality is defined as the manner by
cles for the period 1995 to 2005. Tay- available. which persons seek meaning in their
lor2 reported that a mid-2004 search In this article, I identify chal- lives and experience transcendence—
of PubMed yielded 202 clinical tri- lenges of providing spiritual care in connectedness to that which is beyond
als in which religion was a study critical care settings, explain how the self—whereas religion is best
variable, 30 000 articles on religion, the elements of the American Asso- understood as adherence to an
and 1500 articles on spirituality and ciation of Critical-Care Nurses accepted formalized system of belief
that more than 12 nursing textbooks (AACN) Synergy Model for Patient and practices.5,8,9 Most nurse authors8,9
on spiritual care had been published Care6 address spirituality, and rec- view spirituality as a universal phe-
since 1989. ommend nursing interventions nomenon, for although all persons
A consensus is growing that reli- based on the Synergy Model that are do not understand and accept the
giosity and spirituality are signifi- targeted to critically ill patients’ supernatural, all persons have needs
cantly related to physical and spiritual needs. for seeking meaning and acceptance
in their lives.
Author Although spirituality is an abstract
Amy Rex Smith is an associate professor in the Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and multidimensional concept,5,8-10
and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass. 2 components of spirituality are widely
Corresponding author: Amy Rex Smith, DNSc, APRN, BC, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health described: vertical and horizontal.
Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125 (e-mail:
amyrex.smith@umb.edu). The vertical component describes
To purchase electronic or print reprints, contact The InnoVision Group, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. that which is transcendent, the con-
Phone, (800) 809-2273 or (949) 362-2050 (ext 532); fax, (949) 362-2049; e-mail, reprints@aacn.org. nections between a patient (inside
Accreditation of Healthcare Organi- in-between and while delivering Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.37