• Aru Narayanasamy.
• Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. aru.narayanasamy@nottingham.ac.uk
• J Clin Nurs. 2006 Jul 1; 15 (7): 840-51.

Aims And ObjectivesThe aim of this paper is to share reflectively how my empirical studies on spirituality and culture have had an impact upon nurse education.BackgroundSpirituality and cultural dimensions of care are considered to be integral to holistic care. The healing potentials of spiritual and cultural care are well documented. The commitment to the research programme came due to the concern within early literature on nursing that the provision of spiritual care for patients is inadequate.MethodsThe research programme used action research comprising largely qualitative approaches. As the holistic and multiperspective nature of spirituality and culture requires a multidisciplinary approach and flexibility of methodology, various research techniques were used.ResultsThe findings from the research programme led to the development of theories, models and conceptual literature on spiritual and cultural care. In particular, two models evolved from the studies: the ASSET for spiritual cares education and training and the ACCESS for transcultural care practice. The critical incident studies provide insights into nurses' roles in spiritual care interventions. The phenomenological study highlights that chronically ill patients use spiritual strategies in coping with their illness.ConclusionOverall, the paper offers a body of evidence that has an impact upon curriculum development in nurse education and nursing practice.Relevance To Clinical PracticeThe ASSET model offers a framework for spiritual care education. The ACCESS model offers a framework for transcultural care practice. The critical incident studies map out nurses' roles in spiritual and cultural care with scope for development of care intervention models for the future. The coping mechanisms study highlights how patients use spiritual coping strategies such as prayer and other resources to cope with their chronic illnesses.

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