Nursing the Spirit: Care, Public Life, and the Dignity of Vulnerable Strangers

Nurses at an academic medical center incorporate spirituality into their care work, seeing themselves as responsible for patients physical and spiritual well-being. They believe they can reconcile science and spirituality through storytelling and provide more spiritual care than chaplains. Grant's book explores the social significance of religion and recasts the intersection of science and spirituality by centering the perspectives of the people who provide care.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Spiritual concerns have always been deeply intertwined with the realms of illness and death. However, in the modern world, the majority of individuals face suffering and treatment in impersonal, bureaucratic facilities where employees are expected to adhere to strict scientific and rationalized norms of behavior. Among the professionals tasked with tending to patients, nurses and other workers play a crucial role in navigating the delicate balance between science and spirituality.

In his insightful book, "Nursing the Spirit: Incorporating Spirituality into Care Work," Don Grant delves into the nuanced ways in which nurses at an academic medical center integrate spirituality into their caregiving practices. Through extensive fieldwork and a comprehensive survey on spirituality, Grant reveals that many nurses perceive themselves as responsible for not only the physical health of their patients but also their spiritual well-being. They believe that they can reconcile science and spirituality through the art of storytelling and assert that they can offer more spiritual care than chaplains.

Interestingly, despite their belief in the potential for spiritual care, nurses rarely engage in discussions about religion among themselves. This is largely due to concerns that their colleagues may feel uncomfortable discussing spirituality. However, Grant argues that by seeking to honor the inherent worth of each patient as a human being, nurses can manifest spiritual values of care.

Through his personal experiences as a hospital volunteer chaplain and a living liver-transplant donor, Grant weaves empirical analyses of nurses' spiritual work with his own experiences. This unique approach allows him to develop a fresh understanding of the social significance of religion and reimagine the intersection of science and spirituality by centering the perspectives of the care providers themselves.

In conclusion, "Nursing the Spirit" offers a profound exploration of the ways in which nurses navigate the complex terrain between science and spirituality. By shedding light on the perspectives of the people who provide care, Grant provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the social significance of religion and the role of spirituality in healthcare. This book is a must-read for healthcare professionals, researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of science, spirituality, and patient care.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231200516