Nurses’ and Nursing Assistants’ Perceptions of Spiritual Healthcare

Spiritual Healthcare Services in Acute Cardiovascular Wards

Authors

  • Victor Sulaiman Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
  • S. H. Cedar London South Bank University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.36381

Keywords:

Assessment, spiritual care services

Abstract

Healthcare chaplains in hospital have a number of roles, many of which may not be known. Whether staff are aware of healthcare provisions and the roles of the spiritual healthcare services will influence the use of these services for patients and, of course, for staff themselves. If staff are not aware of chaplains' roles this may affect the ability of chaplains to carry out their full range of roles and provide the care needed for patients and staff.


We investigated nursing and nursing assistants' awareness of spiritual healthcare services in a cardio-vascular department, consisting of six wards and an outpatient clinic, in a central London tertiary NHS Trust hospital. Of the 184 members of staff that are nurses or nursing assistants, 78 filled in our questionnaires (42%). These questionnaires provided descriptive quantitative data to gauge awareness of spiritual healthcare services and provide information for which services needed development. By using the questionnaire, we also hoped to raise awareness of the services provided.

Author Biographies

  • Victor Sulaiman, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust

    Victor Sulaiman is a Generic Chaplain on the Cardiovascular Unit, Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

  • S. H. Cedar, London South Bank University

    S. H. Cedar is Associate Professor & Reader and Head of the End of Life Care Research Group, School of Health & Social Care, London South Bank University, London, UK.

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Published

2019-04-26

How to Cite

Sulaiman, V., & Cedar, S. (2019). Nurses’ and Nursing Assistants’ Perceptions of Spiritual Healthcare: Spiritual Healthcare Services in Acute Cardiovascular Wards. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 7(1), 28-36. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.36381