• Elizabeth Weathers, Geraldine McCarthy, and Alice Coffey.
• Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
• Nurs Forum. 2016 Apr 1; 51 (2): 79-96.

AimThe aim of this article is to clarify the concept of spirituality for future nursing research.BackgroundPrevious concept analyses of spirituality have mostly reviewed the conceptual literature with little consideration of the empirical literature. The literature reviewed in prior concept analyses extends from 1972 to 2005, with no analysis conducted in the past 9 years.DesignRodgers' evolutionary framework was used to review both the theoretical and empirical literature pertaining to spirituality. Evolutionary concept analysis is a formal method of philosophical inquiry, in which papers are analyzed to identify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the concept.Data SourceEmpirical and conceptual literature.ResultsThree defining attributes of spirituality were identified: connectedness, transcendence, and meaning in life. A conceptual definition of spirituality was proposed based on the findings. Also, four antecedents and five primary consequences of spirituality were identified.ConclusionsSpirituality is a complex concept. This concept analysis adds some clarification by proposing a definition of spirituality that is underpinned by both conceptual and empirical research. Furthermore, exemplars of spirituality, based on prior qualitative research, are presented to support the findings. Hence, the findings of this analysis could guide future nursing research on spirituality.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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