Spiritual care for older nursing home residents-healthcare professionals’ experiences and suggestions for skills development

Background: Providing spiritual care is recognized as part of a healthcare professionals’ responsibility and an important part of whole-person care in nursing homes. Aim: To describe healthcare professionals’ experiences with spiritual care provision and identify their educational needs concerning skills development within a nursing home. Method: Thirty-four healthcare professionals in a nursing home in Norway answered five open-ended questions. Analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis. Findings: Three themes were identified: 1) Understanding spiritual care as whole person care 2) Spiritual care must include matters of faith 3) Improving conversations and listening skills regarding spiritual needs. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals’ experiences of spiritual care varied; it included religious rituals but was also described by the small things that make life worth living. Skills development areas were closely related to participants’ understanding of spiritual care. Both theoretical knowledge and practical skills are needed, to discuss existential themes and communicate well with older residents.