The Effect of Spiritual Care Education on ICU Nurses’ Perceived Competence in Providing Daily Spiritual Assessment: A Quality Improvement Project

Background: Spiritual care (SC) is essential to holistic nursing care, particularly within intensive care units. Nurses often report feeling inadequately equipped to perform daily spiritual assessments. Objective: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve the ICU nurses’ competence and Knowledge in providing SC. Methods: This QI project included 24 ICU nurses at a faith-based hospital. An in-person SC program was developed using Fisher’s model (2011). Participants completed 27-item Spiritual Care Competence Scale (SCCS) and two knowledge questions pre- and post-education sessions. Following education session, a daily EPIC-integrated SC assessment was instituted. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics and number of referrals to Spiritual Health Department. Independent t-tests were conducted to evaluate changes in SC competence and knowledge. Results: All 27 SCCS items showed increased post-test scores, with 25 items reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). The SCCS scores for all six subscales significantly increased (p < 0.05), with the most significant improvements in the professionalization and improving the quality of SC and the assessment and implementation of the SC subscales. Referrals to the Spiritual Health Department increased from 9 to 12. Biblical Integration: Integrating SC aligns with biblical call for holistic compassion, as highlighted in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, underscoring the importance of caring for body, soul, and spirit, reflecting Christ’s love. Conclusion: Implementing SC Education improved ICU nurses’ SC competency and knowledge. Findings from this QI project may serve to inform and shape future educational programs focused on SC for nurses.