Competence 3: Spiritual Care, Assessment and Planning

The expectation that we should provide spiritual care suggests that this dimension of nursing and midwifery practice is fundamental to the delivery of high-quality care. This means that nurses and midwives must understand what is meant by spiritual care and possess the necessary skills to be able to support individuals with their spiritual needs that are observable, tangible and indeed considered fundamental. This chapter introduces the reader to different approaches to spiritual assessment that are used within nursing, midwifery and healthcare practice. It will distinguish between what are considered formal and informal methods of assessment. The entire chapter is grounded in practical examples, and scenarios are used to illustrate the importance of undertaking spiritual assessments that are culturally sensitive. A unique feature is the application of spiritual assessment to an Asian context and to working with adolescents.