The Religion of “I Don’t Know”

Naturalistic Pilot Observations of Spiritual Conversations Occurring During Cancer Home Hospice Nurse Visits

Bibliographic Data

ID13629184
AuthorsLee Ellington (0000-0002-7035-490X, University of Utah, corresponding author), Maija Reblin (0000-0003-3108-465X, University of Utah), Betty Ferrell (0000-0003-0061-5235, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA), Christina Puchalski (0000-0002-4532-7766, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA), Christina M Puchalski (George Washington University), Shirley Otis‐Green (0000-0002-4077-6044, Collaborative Group (United States)), Shirley Otis-Green (Collaborative Caring, Toluca Lake, CA, USA), George Handzo (0000-0001-6683-7303, Handzo Consulting, Los Angeles, CA, USA), Katherine Doyon (0000-0003-2313-635X, University of Utah), Margaret F Clayton (0000-0002-0318-5210, University of Utah)
Year2015
Volume72
Issue1
Pages3-19
Publication date2015-03-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0030222815574689
OpenAlexW2283885777
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited30

The goal of this pilot study was to identify naturally occurring, spiritually relevant conversations and elucidate challenges for nurses in home hospice. We examined naturalistic communication data collected during nurse hospice visits with cancer patients and their family caregivers. Using deductive content analysis, guided by Consensus Conference spiritual categories and definition, categorical themes were identified. Thirty-three visits to seven families were recorded by five nurses. Although most spiritual dialogue was brief, analysis revealed five themes: Spiritual Beliefs and Rituals, Connection, Spiritual Comfort, Closure and Acceptance, and Spiritual Distress. Findings demonstrate the range of spiritual issues raised in hospice and challenges nurses face in maintaining boundaries while remaining genuine and family-centered in providing care. This work serves as a foundation for future research and education to help clinicians to engage in more intentional spiritual conversations in the support of families at end of life

Alternative medicine · Distress · Face (sociological concept · Naturalism · Palliative care · Psychotherapist · Sociology · Spiritual care · Spirituality · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

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