Sammanfattning
A survey carried out at the Frederiksborg County Neurology and Rehabilitation Unit reveals that nursing staff, despite their awareness of the spiritual aspect of care, are reluctant to broach the subject of spirituality in their interaction with patients. The majority do not wish to participate in religious rituals such as bible reading or prayer. The reasons given are pressure of time, a lack of relevant qualification and the opinion that faith is a private matter. It was much easier to provide spiritual care for congenial patients.
Consequently, patients whose behaviour was congenial and who themselves took the initiative in relation to spiritual matters are more likely to get help than patients who appear uncongenial, lack initiative or whose spiritual needs are unknown. A patient may find him/herself in a state of existential crisis, which may be camouflaged by anger or depression. These emotions, in relation to this particular group of patients, can be interpreted by less confident staff as being somatic in character. The reticence of nursing staff may lead to those with greatest need for help in finding meaning in their lives getting no help at all.
The conclusions of the survey were by and large supported by literature.