Abstract

PEREZ-GARCIA, Esteban. NURSING AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN THE TERMINAL PATIENT . Enfermería [online]. 2016, vol.5, n.2, pp.41-45. ISSN 1688-8375.

The spirituality is part of the human dimension of man, it is precisely what makes us human. But this is a phenomenon little studied by nurses, perhaps because we are immersed in a scientific world that denies everything that is not perceived by the senses and because there is no clear definition of the concept. The spiritual needs, as a manifestation of the spirituality, are similarly relegated and there is not a clear action model for nurses. However, nursing is precisely the profession which must ensure the "total care" of patients compared to "total pain" advocated by Cicely Saunders. This fact is even more palpable in the field of palliative care, when our patients face their last days. However, many professionals nurses who do not perceive as its own satisfaction of the patients' spiritual needs, even if this is in the principles of their profession. In this aspect, the best action tool that nurses have is communication, which should be addressed in a context of counselling.

Keywords : Nursing; Palliative Care; Spirituality; Communication.

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