Training Nursing Students in Communication and Spiritual Assessment

Abstract

Nursing students require communication and spiritual assessment skills in the curriculum to provide whole-person palliative care to patients. This study used the communication style of motivational interviewing with the Faith, Importance, Community, Address care spiritual history tool to improve student confidence (N = 30) in connecting with others. Three qualitative themes demonstrated the potential for student growth: (1) active listening and nonjudgment allows people to open up, (2) the unknown territory of spirituality using Faith, Importance, Community, Address care as a guide, and (3) building confidence through practice. Recommendations support a dedicated palliative care course embedded in nursing curriculum to address the concepts of communication and spirituality.