Factors influencing the self-perceived competencies in spiritual care of nurses in the long-term care facilities

Aims To identify key factors influencing institutional nurses' self-perceived competencies in spiritual care. Background In the past decade, interest in spiritual care has been increasing; however, in long-term care facilities, limited knowledge is available about nurses' competencies in spiritual care. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 nurses in 11 long-term care facilities. Data were collected in a survey using the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale, the Nurse Spiritual Care Therapeutics Scale, the Spiritual Care Competence Scale and demographic questions. Data were analysed using stepwise linear regression. Results Study findings revealed that nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care, frequency of spiritual care provision and self-satisfaction with the spiritual care given all significantly predicted overall spiritual care competence, which together explain 58% of the total variance. Conclusions Improving nurses' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care and encouraging the performance of spiritual care may be an effective pathway to enhance the spiritual care competence of institutional nurses. Implications for Nursing Management Additional continuing education on spiritual care topics and the establishment of clear guidance and support from institutional administrators are required to enable nurses to deal with spiritual issues as they arise and improve the quality of holistic care.