Citation

Alvarenga WA, de Carvalho EC, Caldeira S, Vieira M, Nascimento LC. J. Child Health Care 2017; 21(4): 435-445.

Affiliation

PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1367493517737183

PMID

29110531

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to present discussions on how pediatric nurses can perform spiritual care to children and adolescents and discuss the challenges of integrating such care in health-care settings. Based on the literature, the article presents an overview of spiritual care in pediatric settings highlighting the assessment of spirituality, expected outcomes, and the corresponding nursing interventions. Spiritual care provided to children and adolescents should take into account all aspects of the developmental stage, life experiences, and familiar and sociocultural contexts. Different approaches can be used to perform spiritual care. However, lack of knowledge and time are highlighted as the main challenges in integrating spiritual care into the clinical practice. Spiritual care is crucial to the well-being of children and adolescents in times of illness and hospitalization when the goal is to provide holistic care.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; child; nursing; nursing care; spirituality