Investigation of the Relationship Between the Professional Self Concept and Spiritual Care of Clinical Nurses

Abstract

Background: Professional self is the internalization of knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and belief sspecific to the profession. Nurses, who are healthcare professionals, can encounter spiritual care needs in everyenvironment they are with individuals. However, it is thought that there is a need for studies examining the relationship between professional self-concept and spiritual care perceptions in nursing and questions to be answered about this relationship. Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between clinical nurses’ professional selfconceptand their perceptions of spiritual care. Methods: The research is descriptive and was conducted with 142 nurses working at Ondokuz Mayıs University Health Application and Research Center (OMÜSUVAM) between September 2017 and March 2018. Sociodemographic data form, Professional Self-Concept Scale, Spirituality and Spiritual Care Perception Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. Descriptive statistics, t-test for in dependent groups, one-wayan alysis of variance (ANOVA), pearson correlation test and Tukey Post Hoc test were used in the statistical evaluation of the data. Results: The meanage of the nurses participating in the study was 33.34±8.25 years, 85% were women, 64% were married, 73% were under graduates, and 39% were working in internal services. The average working year was 11.85±8.22 years, 58% of them stated that they worked during the ayand on duty, 48% of them stated that they chose the nursing profession because the appointment criteria were easier than other professions. Professional Self-Concept Scale meanscore of the participants was 111.24±0.32, Spirituality and Spiritual care Perception Scale means core was 64.09±0.42, and total item mean score was 3.77±0.42. In the study, a statistically positivem oderate relationship (r= .42, p= .001) was determined between nurses’ professional self-concepts and their perception of spirituality and spiritual care. Conclusion It was concluded that as the professional self level of clinical nurses increased, their perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care increased. In nursing education and in-service training, it may be suggested to place elements of spiritual care into educational practices that develop professional self-concept. © Cetus Publishing.