ArticleBMC nursing2026
Weaving spiritual care into nursing education: how the use of a self-assessment tool motivates students in a qualitative study.
Article in BMC nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundNurses have a critical role in providing spiritual care that improves the well-being of patients. Competencies for spiritual care are well described by the Enhancing Nurses’ and Midwives’ Competence in Providing Spiritual Care through Innovative Education and Compassionate Care (EPICC) network. Development of these competencies needs to be addressed by nursing education but how is yet to be explored.
objectiveExplore how the implementation of the EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self- Assessment Tool in a bachelor nursing program contributes to the development of spiritual care competencies in nursing students.
designQualitative study to explore experiences of nursing students regarding their development of spiritual care competency. SETTING(S): Bachelor nursing education in the Netherlands.
participants20 undergraduate nursing students.
methodsIndividual interviews, Reflexive Thematic Analysis.
resultsThe students described developing spiritual care competency as a process influenced by student factors, the support from significant others, and the design and content of the curriculum. Students reported the use of the EPICC Tool as enhancing this learning process by providing reflection, support and knowledge about spiritual care. The EPICC Tool is mentioned as support to overcome barriers to start providing spiritual care. In this process, students opened up for spiritual care and recognised ‘the other’ as a human being. By building relationships they reported incentives to repeatedly provide spiritual care. By doing so, they built up competency and became intrinsically motivated for spiritual care. The mandatory use of the EPICC Tool is described as supportive.
conclusionsDeveloping spiritual care competency is a process influenced by many factors. This research shows that students experienced that the use of the mandatory EPICC Tool enhances this learning process. Educators should consider the use of mandatory assignments and threading spiritual care content throughout their curriculum to support the process of learning.
trial registrationclinical trial number: not applicable.
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