Spiritual Care Experiences of Nurses Working in Gynecology Clinic: A Qualitative Research

RationalePregnancy and childbirth are among the most important events in a woman's reproductive life. In this process with full of uncertainties, nurses who provide primary care to women play a key role. Spiritual care is an important part of holistic care and an indicator of quality of care.AimThis research aims to thoroughly examine and describe the spiritual care experiences of nurses working in obstetrics and gynecology clinics specific to their clinics.MethodsThe study was carried out based on the descriptive phenomenology type of phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods. The study group included nurses in gynecology clinics in different provinces and hospitals in Turkey. The criterion sampling method, one of the purposive sampling methods, was used, and 12 nurses comprised the sample size. A semi-structured interview form was used to collect the data. In evaluating the obtained data, thematic content analysis and MAXQDA 22 software were used. The study was written based on the COREQ checklist.ResultsThe data obtained from the interviews were analyzed under six themes: the concept of spiritual care, spiritual care practices, factors complicating spiritual care, factors facilitating spiritual care, emotional effects of spiritual care, and recommendations on the best way to provide spiritual care.ConclusionsIt is vital to train gynecology nurses in spiritual care, reduce their workload, and develop clinical practice guidelines. Increasing the awareness of obstetric nurses about the factors affecting their spiritual care experiences while caring for individuals in clinical practices will contribute to increasing the quality of nursing care.