An exploration of the extent of inclusion of spirituality and spiritual care concepts in core nursing textbooks

It is essential that nurses are adequately prepared to address the spiritual needs of patients. While there are numerous spiritual care texts that deal solely with this issue for nurses, there is an argument emerging that core nursing texts used by nursing students ought to encompass spiritual care elements. Lack of specific focus on this field, by these key textbooks might infer that this important element of holistic care is less important than other matters in nursing. True holistic care ought to permeate across textbooks and as such spirituality and spiritual care ought not to be sequestered to specialised texts. Core nursing texts need to be strengthened through consistency of application and inclusion of spirituality and spiritual care where relevant.