Enhancing Nurses’ and Midwives’ Competence in Providing Spiritual Care

Book excerpt: This book is the first of its kind, addressing key issues in the teaching and learning of spirituality and spiritual care in the context of nursing and midwifery practice. The content is based on the outcomes of a European-wide project (EPICC) that brought together leading nursing and midwifery educators and practitioners from 21 countries. It highlights the importance of ensuring student nurses’ and midwives receive sufficient educational preparation to provide spiritual/person-centred care. In turn, the book puts forward an innovative and creative approach to the teaching of spiritual/person-centred care, based on an evaluation of best practice across Europe. The content and activities presented will enable nursing and midwifery educators to acquire new knowledge/skills for learning about and teaching on the personal, religious and spiritual aspects of person-centred care. Both interactive and engaging, it will equip nursing and midwifery students to holistically address the needs of the people they care for. The book has the potential to transform the nursing and midwifery workforce of the future by ensuring they are prepared to face the global challenges that are impacting international nursing and midwifery practice.