Report of the 2nd Pre-conference International Student Conference Spiritual Care and Health Professions: Context and Practice

'Research and education in spiritual care'

Organized on behalf of the European Spirituality Research Network for Nursing and Midwifery

Researchers and teachers from England, Norway, Portugal, Malta and Netherlands met to share knowledge in the field of spiritual care. The pre-Conference precedes the student Conference in giving researchers and teachers the possibility to share knowledge with each other and to meet each other as experts. The program gave space to encounter and exchange of knowledge.

In a number of attractive presentations research was presented. Topics offered were: research to competences in the field of spiritual care; spirituality in training programs for nurses in Portugal and Netherlands and how students learn spiritual care in practice.
In addition to these presentations, research was discussed in how the attention for spiritual care in training and nursing practice can get a clearer place. It became clear that the development of spiritual awareness among students and healthcare professionals, and concrete tools for practice in assessment and vision are important to increase the attention of spiritual care in the practice.

A further conclusion was that it is important for the integration of spiritual care, that spirituality has to be an integral theme in the nursing curricula. And that it is desirable to lead students with a Nursing model in which spirituality and spiritual care get  an explicit place.

It was a fruitful day, in which we shared knowledge and expertise with each other in a relaxed manner.
One of the final conclusions of this pre-Conference was that it is important for this European Spirituality Research Network for nursing and midwifery to perpetuate and to organize two years from now on a follow-up Conference in Lissabon. For the continuity of the network initiatives will be taken by the core group of the network to develop a digital network using the new media. To be continued…and with Gods help we’ll meet in 2013 in Lissabon.

Rudolf Schaaf
Healthcare Department,
Reformed School of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, Netherlands

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• Photo impression

The first day (November 3rd) of the student conference was devoted to the concept of spiritual care. The plenary lectures were about research state and the concept and essence of spiritual care.
Dr. Martin Walton spoke about the essence of spiritual care in health care. Dr. Linda Ross presented the first results of a research about healthcare student’s perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care. Drs. Sylvia Grevel spoke about spirituality in today’s secular society. Professor Kees Waaijman gave an explanation of the concept of spirituality in such a way that it can be operational in the context of health care.

The second day (November 4th) of the conference was devoted to the practice of spiritual care. The plenary lectures were about the relevance to nursing practice. Dr. Peter Draper presented the state of research on spirituality and spirituality in nursing. Professor Wilfred Schnepp spoke about providing hope. Dr. Carlo Leget gave an explanation of the directive spiritual care of palliative care and Dr Baldacchino about the role of the nurse in providing spiritual care in hospital.

The workshops gave students the opportunity to contribute to process different content. Martine van Klinken, third-year nursing student, Reformed University of Applied Sciences, wrote a reflection on the conference. See >>>

November 3rd

Lecture The essence of spiritual care in Health Care,
Dr. Martin Walton, Lecturer in Spiritual Care at Protestant Theological University, Kampen, Netherlands

Handout Health Care student’s perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care.
Dr. Linda Ross, Senior Lecturer at University of Glamorgan, Wales 

Handout Spirituality in today’s secular society.
Drs. Sylvia Grevel, Researcher KASKI Expertise Institute for Religion and Society, Netherlands

Lecture Spirituality in Health Care professions; conceptualization.
Prof. Kees Waaijman, Professor in spirituality, Titus Brandsma Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands

November 4th

Lecture Spiritual care in Health Care: state of the art and handout. 
Dr. Peter Draper, Head of Department of Health Professionals, University of Hull, England

Handout The relevance of spirituality in Health Care: a perspective from nursing science.
Prof. Wilfred Schnepp, Nursing professor, University Witten/Herdecke, Germany 

Handout Development of a guideline for spiritual care in palliative care in the Netherlands.
Dr. Carlo Leget, Associate Professor, Faculty Humanities, Tilburg University, Netherlands

Lecture Spiritual care in a hospital setting.
Dr. Donia Baldacchino, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Health Sciences, Coordinator MSc Health Science (Nursing / Midwifery / Mental Health), University of Malta

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• Photo impression

The workshops gave students the opportunity to contribute to process different content. Martine van Klinken, third-year nursing student, Reformed University of Applied Sciences, wrote a reflection on the conference. See >>>

Papers & Handouts regarding the parallel sessions of November 3 & 4 alphabetically

Complicated Spiritual Grief and Bereavement Distress: paper
Laurie A. Burke M.S.;
Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Candidate, Center for the Study of Loss & Transition, The Grief Clinic, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA, laurie.a.burke@gmail.com.

What do nursing students have to say about spirituality and their preparation to provide spiritual care? Paper & handout
Caldeira, Sílvia; RGN, MSc, PhD Nursing Student,
Catholic University of Portugal. Caldeira.silvia@gmail.com
Narayanasamy, Aru; BA, MSc, M.Phil, PhD, RGN, RMN, Cert Ed, FHEA,
Associate Professor and National Teaching Fellow (UK), Faculty of Medicine & Health Science, School of Nursing, Midwifery&Physiotherapy, University of Nottingham E-mail: Aru.Narayanasamy@nottingham.ac.uk
Silva, Isabel; RGN,
Nursing teacher at University of Madeira, Portugal

Teaching Spiritual Care – A Grounded Theory Study among Undergrad Nursing Teachers: paper
Pamela H Cone;
Azusa Pacific University, Nursing, pcone@apu.edu
Tove Giske RN, PhD;
Associate Professor, Haraldsplass Deaconess University College and Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Ulriksdal 10, 5009 Bergen, Norway, tove.giske@haraldsplass.no

Nepsis - The contribution of watchfulness to wellbeing in the Christian tradition: paper
Professor Chris Cook;
Department of Theology & Religion, and School for Medicine & Health, Durham University, U.K. c.c.h.cook@durham.ac.uk
Father Timothy Curtis;
School of Health, University of Northampton, U.K. Tim.Curtis@northampton.ac.uk

Spirituality and Mental Health: paper & handout
Maria do Carmo Lemos Vieira Gouveia;
Master Degree, Mental Health and Psychiatric Nurse, Nursing Professor, Nursing PhD Student, University of Madeira- Centro de Competência de Tecnologias da saúde, Portugal, carmo.gouveia@gmail.com

Foundations for spiritual care: How can scholarly research influence clinical practice? paper & handout 1, handout 2
Leslie Van Dover PhD, PN, RN;
School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University (APU), Azusa, California, U.S.A., LVanDover@apu.edu

How to overcome barriers in providing spiritual care to patients: paper & handout
Tove Giske RN, PhD;
Associate Professor, Haraldsplass Deaconess University College and Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Ulriksdal 10, 5009 Bergen, Norway. tove.giske@haraldsplass.no

What is spiritual care in relation to women, babies and families? paper & handout
Jenny Hall;
Senior Midwifery lecturer, UWE Bristol, U.K., Jenny.Hall@uwe.ac.uk

Spirituality and patient preferences in end of life care: paper 
Ria den Hertog RN, MScN, PhD student;
Lecturer in Nursing / Researcher Nursing Ethics, Christian University of applied sciences, Ede, Holland, Fdhertog@che.nl

The Bridge of understanding-Mastering the gap between nurse students’ initial understanding and the profounder understanding of patients’ spiritual needs: paper & handout
Tibertius Koslander RN,MNSc, PhD;
Department of Caring Science, Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa. Postal address: Stjärng  10/B. 451 51 Uddevalla/Sweden. tikosla@hotmail.com
Eva Persson RN, PhD;
Senior Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, University of Borås, Sweden. eva.persson@hb.se

Spiritual care in hospice care settings: paper & handout
Vibeke Oestergaard Steenfeldt, MSc in Nursing, phd-fellow;
Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, DK-4000 Roskilde. Email: vst@ruc.dk

The concealed and the revealed of faculty/student spiritual growth and integration of faith during nursing school: paper
Jane Pfeiffer MS, MA, RN, PhD student and Assistant Professor of Nursing;
Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing, Faculty and Student partnership in spiritual care, health, and wholeness jpfeiffer@apu.edu

Spiritual Care in the Critical Care Setting: paper
Amy Rex Smith DNSc, RN, ACNS, BC;
Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, U.S.A., Amyrex.Smith@umb.edu

Religion as part of spirituality in old age – a Norwegian study: paper
The study is part of a PhD-project titled The spiritual space as foundation for dignity at Åbo Akademy University, Vasa, Finland
Linda Rykkje RN, Cand.san; linda.rykkje@hsh.no.

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• Photo impression

‘Receiving is one of the fundamental disabilities of nurses’ one of the speakers said casually at the conference on Spiritual Care and Health Professions on November 3 & 4, in Amsterdam where students and teachers amongst others talked two days about and thought about spiritual care, but this one sentence touched my heart, because I think this is the basis of spiritual care: ‘Receiving’… And yes, because someone claims this to be our weak spot, I want to explore this in this personal impression.
In the Church hall I looked around me and saw a variety of people. All with their own personal drive to support and help their fellow creatures when needed. Motivated people, giving themselves, having something to give and even thinking about 'how to provide spiritual care'. Among other things that made me feel connected to all these people, despite differences in language and culture.

And then that sentence about receiving which seems to be difficult for us, popped up.
Is there a balance in receiving and giving? Are we open to receiving or is our main attitude to give? Aren't we always on the lookout to give help? Always thinking of what to do. But how will we be able to give, if we don’t learn to receive first.

I think that, looking at spiritual care, we need to think about our behaviour in receiving from our patients. Looking at myself, I suddenly realized that my patients, unknowingly, teach me the principle of receiving. I asked myself how often I felt grateful and showed gratitude to a patient who confided in me, who shared his or her inner feelings with me. I asked myself: how do my patients see that I am grateful for this. I suppose every nurse has his or her own way of showing gratitude. Most likely it shows in our eyes en behaviour. I mostly take it for granted that patients know that I’m grateful. But is it possible that we overlook something very basic? How often do I say ‘Thank you?’ Thank you for sharing. Thank you for showing me who you are. Thank you for letting me in. Unreserved, open and sensitive as the beginning of a process of giving and receiving.
Also there is the necessity to learn to read the unspoken needs behind the words and emotions of patients. You know: that spiritual antenna speakers talked about. And those hands folding round the flame of the candle. Opening your heart and tuning into the heart of your patient.
If you are open minded, sensitive and receptive, if you show you really want to be receiving, then that door to to the spiritual needs opens. If you are allowed to step in that spiritual dimension every person has, most of all our suffering patients, only then it is time to give. Know what you did receive to know what you are able to give. This interacting between the hearts of nurse and patient, this process of giving and taking is, to me, the basis of spiritual care.

Giving spiritual care, how do we do that??
Just start receiving, maybe by simply saying
 ‘Thank you’.

Impression by Martine van Klinken
Healthcare student
Reformed University of Applied Sciences

Nederlandse versie