'Nurses as Gatekeepers': Nurses' Responses to Spiritual Needs of Patients with Primary Malignant Brain Tumors in Austria-Analysis of a Qualitative Vignette Study.

in Journal of religion and health by Reinhard Grabenweger, Daniela Völz, Elisabeth Bumes, Megan Best, Piret Paal

TLDR

  • The study explores the nurses' gatekeeping role for spiritual care in multi-disciplinary teams for patients with brain tumors in Austria, highlighting their critical role in ensuring comprehensive team-based care.

Abstract

This paper investigates the nurses' gatekeeping role for spiritual care in multi-disciplinary teams as a way of responding to the spiritual needs of patients with brain tumors in Austria. Using a validated vignette in an online survey, qualitative data from 56 neurosurgical nurses (30.4% response rate) were analyzed via reflexive thematic analysis. One key theme, Nurses as Gatekeepers - Referral and Working with other Health Care Professionals, highlights nurses' critical role in spiritual care. Effective referrals depend on nurses' awareness of spiritual care specialists' roles, emphasizing their importance in ensuring comprehensive, team-based care for neuro-oncological patients with complex spiritual needs.

Overview

  • The study investigates the nurses' gatekeeping role for spiritual care in multi-disciplinary teams for patients with brain tumors in Austria.
  • A validated vignette in an online survey was used to analyze the qualitative data from 56 neurosurgical nurses, with a 30.4% response rate.
  • The study aims to examine the nurses' critical role in spiritual care and their awareness of spiritual care specialists' roles in ensuring comprehensive team-based care for neuro-oncological patients with complex spiritual needs.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study found that nurses play a crucial role in spiritual care, with effective referrals depending on their awareness of spiritual care specialists' roles.
  • The analysis revealed a key theme, 'Nurses as Gatekeepers - Referral and Working with other Health Care Professionals', highlighting the importance of nurses' roles in spiritual care.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of spiritual care specialists in ensuring comprehensive, team-based care for neuro-oncological patients with complex spiritual needs.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study highlights the significance of nurses' awareness of spiritual care specialists' roles in ensuring accurate referrals and comprehensive care for neuro-oncological patients with complex spiritual needs.
  • Future research directions could explore the role of spiritual care specialists in team-based care for neuro-oncological patients and strategies for improving nurses' awareness of their roles.
  • The study's findings have implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of integrated spiritual care in multidisciplinary teams managing neuro-oncological patients.
Read Full Article