Nursing Students’ Lived Experience of Spiritual Care in High-Fidelity Simulation

Date of Conferral

10-11-2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Susan Huehn

Abstract

Abstract Addressing patients' spirituality is fundamental to holistic patient-centered care. Spiritual care education should be emphasized in associate degree nursing (ADN) programs where patient care practice begins with high-fidelity simulation. Research on ADN students' experiences providing spiritual care in high-fidelity simulation is nonexistent; therefore, this study involved understanding ADN students' lived experiences regarding this topic. This study used a phenomenological heuristic approach guided by Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain's theory of modeling and role modeling and Watson's theory of human caring. Twenty-seven ADN students enrolled in a developmental (pediatrics, maternal-child health, and obstetrics) course at a local college in the southeastern US were recruited via a flyer left in their classroom. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven ADN students who consented to participate in the study, with saturation occurring after four student study participant interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analysis occurred using thematic coding. Results showed four themes: defining spirituality, defining spiritual care in nursing, lack of education on spirituality, and barriers to spiritual care in simulations. Implications for ADN nurse educators include simulations that explicitly address spiritual care. The results of this study influence positive social change by preparing nursing workforces to be comfortable with addressing patients' needs to promote patients' healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Future studies should examine students' and faculty's perceptions of spiritual care involving high-fidelity simulations.

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