SPIRITUAL CARE COMMUNICATION IN CANCER PATIENTS

OBJECTIVES: To provide a definition of spirituality, define the scope and nature of spiritual care communication, describe how to initiate communication about, and elicit, a spiritual history, and introduce the AMEN protocol to support patient/family hopes for a miracle. DATA SOURCES: Literature review. CONCLUSION: Spiritual communication is important throughout cancer care. Nurses can assess and integrate patient and family caregivers' spiritual needs in clinical care by practicing self-awareness and engaging in spiritual care communication strategies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Spirituality is recognized as an essential component of quality care. Spiritual conversations can increase patients' satisfaction with care and improve well-being.